Should I Start George Pickens in Week 2? WR Fantasy Football Ranking Analysis

Week 1 is in the books which means we are no longer operating blindly when it comes to fantasy football. There is a limited sample size of NFL action, but with that sample size, we can make important determinations about our fantasy teams going forward.

One player who has seen his stock potentially improve after Week 1 is Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens. The injury situation in Pittsburgh has given Pickens an excellent opportunity to showcase whether or not he can be the lead receiver for the Steelers this season.

Should I Start George Pickens in Week 2? Find your answer below.

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George Pickens Fantasy Outlook

George Pickens had an underwhelming performance (along with the Steelers’ entire offense) in Week 1. Pickens finished second on the team in targets against the San Francisco 49ers with seven but turned those seven targets into just five receptions for 36 yards. The Steelers' passing attack struggled to get momentum against the 49ers top-tier pass rush in Week 1.

Fantasy managers who drafted George Pickens in the middle rounds gambled on the fact that Pickens would emerge as the top wide receiver in an offense that many expected to improve in Kenny Pickett’s second professional season. Pickens will have a chance to emerge as a top weapon early in the season thanks to injuries from Diontae Johnson (hamstring) and Pat Freiermuth (chest). Johnson will likely miss many weeks and Freiermuth could play this weekend but will certainly be limited.

While the Browns aren’t the best matchup for Pickens downfield skillset thanks to a strong pass rush, it will still be one of the first times we have seen Pickens as the top option in the passing attack.

George Pickens Wide Receivers Ranking Analysis

Pickens is currently ranked as the #59 player according to RotoBaller’s current PPR rankings.

This ranking seems fair given the boom-or-bust nature he has shown throughout his early career while taking into account his upside in Week 2. Pickens has a baseline of a WR3 without Diontae Johnson and with a limited Pat Freiermuth in the passing attack thanks to a bad matchup against a very good Browns defense. However, there is a chance that Pickens can push into the top 20 at the position if the passing attack is funneled through him in Week 2.

Should I Start George Pickens in Week 2 Fantasy Football?

If you drafted George Pickens, you likely believed that his talent would push him to be the top target earner in Pittsburgh’s passing attack. That faith will be put to the test early due to injuries to his surrounding cast in Week 1.

The second-year wide receiver finds himself in a difficult matchup, but could very easily lead Pittsburgh in targets in a game that has shootout potential in Week 2. Due to the unknown of his workload (and the unknown of how the Steelers’ offensive line will manage Cleveland’s defensive line), Pickens is likely a FLEX play in his first week as Pittsburgh’s WR1. Pickens needs just one play to exceed his current ranking, but there is a chance he could fall flat in a tough matchup.

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