Who Should I Start? George Pickens or Rome Odunze


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
14.3 0.1 0.0 4.7 70.1 0.4

George Pickens News

George Pickens Will Officially Play on Francise Tag in 2026

Wednesday, July 15, 4:10 PM

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens will officially play the 2026 season on his $27.3 million franchise tender after the deadline for tagged players to agree on long-term contracts passed on Wednesday, per ESPN. The Cowboys announced before the NFL draft in April that they didn't plan to engage Pickens in long-term extension talks, so this was the expected outcome. The last time Dallas signed a tagged player to an extension was receiver Dez Bryant in 2015. Pickens has signed his tender, which puts him under contract for 2026. Since reaching an extension with Bryant in 2015, quarterback Dak Prescott, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, tight end Dalton Schultz, running back Tony Pollard, and now Pickens have played on the franchise tag. Pickens, 25, was a first-time Pro Bowler and broke out for a career year in 2025 in his first year in Dallas after they acquired him in a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers, catching 93 of 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games. He'll be pricey in fantasy drafts going into his second year in Dallas, and RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 9 fantasy WR for 2026.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
11.4 0.1 0.0 3.5 55.0 0.4

Rome Odunze News

Rome Odunze Will Soon Get the Opportunity to Test His Structurally Altered Foot

Monday, July 20, 6:37 AM

Injuries derailed what looked to be a promising sophomore season for Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze, but when Bears veterans gather for training camp on July 28, he'll be presented with the season's first opportunity to test his bothersome left foot in a padded practice setting. Odunze suffered a stress fracture in the foot that kept him out of the final five games of the regular season, but he elected not to have offseason surgery, opting instead for what he has called the "new normal" of a calloused and slightly shifted foot structure. Through the first four weeks of the 2025 season, Odunze was the fantasy WR3 before the foot first became an issue, but with him slowed later in the year, rookies Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland stepped into prominent roles that leave Chicago's target pecking order somewhat unsettled heading into 2026. RotoBaller ranks Odunze as the WR33, a full 12 positional spots behind Burden, but it should surprise nobody if he's able to pick up where he started last season and command the top pass-catching spot in what projects to be an ascending Chicago offense.


George Pickens vs. Rome Odunze

Still trying to decide between Pickens and Odunze? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that George Pickens is projected to score 14.3 points this week while Rome Odunze is projected to score 11.4 points.