Should I Start George Pickens in Week 3? WR Fantasy Football Rankings Analysis

As a Week 3 meeting with the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday Night Football looms, fantasy managers with Pittsburgh Steelers on their rosters are likely already fed up with Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada.

With Pittsburgh's offense struggling to get anything going across the first two weeks of the season, second-year wide receiver George Pickens has been one of the few bright spots for this otherwise-bland Steelers unit.

What is George Pickens' fantasy football outlook against the Las Vegas Raiders? Where does he stand in our RotoBaller Rankings? Should I start George Pickens in Week 3?

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George Pickens Fantasy Football Outlook

The second-year pro out of the University of Georgia has been one of the few bright spots in a drab Pittsburgh offense. Through the first two weeks of the season, the Steelers are averaging a meager 4.3 yards per play.

Pickens himself had a ho-hum performance in the season opener, recording just 36 yards on five catches in a tough matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Things improved for Pickens in Week 2, as he exploded for 127 yards and a TD on four catches.

His output last week against Cleveland was undoubtedly boosted by the absence of fellow Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson. With Johnson on Injured Reserve, Pickens boasted a team-leading 30% target share against the Browns in Week 2. We can expect the dynamic pass-catcher to continue to be Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett's top option as long as Johnson is sidelined.

George Pickens Wide Receiver Rankings Analysis

After producing a top-12 fantasy performance at the wide receiver position in Week 2, Pickens is trending up with our expert rankers. He is the 22nd-ranked wide receiver in our current RotoBaller Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 3.

Our experts have Pickens grading out as a Tier 4 WR option. That places him in the same category as receivers such as Tyler Lockett and Garrett Wilson in Week 3.

Should I Start George Pickens In Week 3 Fantasy Football?

It's tough for fantasy managers to get really fired up about a Steelers offense that's looked stuck in the mud to this point. Pickens managers can take some solace in the fact that he and this Pittsburgh passing attack have been faced with objectively tough matchups across the first two weeks of the season.

Pickens, Pickett, and company should find things a bit easier in Week 3 against a Raiders pass defense that's allowed the NFL's 10th-most fantasy points to the WR position in 2023. Diontae Johnson's absence from the lineup will continue to be a huge boost to Pickens' prospects for the foreseeable future.

This week's matchup against Las Vegas could be a breakout spot for the Steelers offense as a whole and Pickens should continue to dominate the team's Air Yards and team target share. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable locking him in as a starter this week. He can be considered a WR2 in this spot.

🗣️ WR George Pickens is a MUST START on SNF versus the Raiders 🔥

Will admit I was skeptical of his ability to separate, but so far has a 21% target share and continues to expand his route tree. Budding talent who could EXPLODE #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/Azn5JEo4Ii

— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) September 20, 2023

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