As we close in toward the new season, the ever-changing NFL landscape has player fantasy values constantly on the move, with key events like free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft still to come. Whether you’re used to the dynasty platform or are still learning the rules, let’s dive into the latest dynasty fantasy football value of WR George Pickens.
George Pickens’ Dynasty Outlook and Value
The flash was there, even though the consistency wasn’t. From the minute the draft selection was made, I called Pickens the WR1 of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I cautioned managers not to let him slide in drafts, calling back to what happened to Tee Higgins in 2020.
Pickens showed exactly what I was hoping to see out of him: explosion, incredible body control, three-level separation skills, and buttery soft hands. Despite seeing 84 targets, Pickens finished ahead of Johnson as the WR43 in PPR formats with 52 receptions, 801 yards, and five total touchdowns on a healthy 14.5 aDOT with a 15.6% target share and 28.52% air-yard share.
The Pickens-Pickett combination will only get better as the two get more reps and grow together in the offense. Pickens showed positional versatility, lining up as the X or in the slot. And while he could still use some refinement in his game, you’re looking at one of the up-and-coming household names at the deepest position in dynasty.
MORE: Dynasty Rankings 2023 — Top Fantasy Options at Wide Receiver
Part of the evaluation of Pickens comes down to your belief in the ceiling of Pickett and this offense. If you believe we likely saw all that Pickett has to offer, then odds are Pickens likely doesn’t interest you much, as he’ll spend the next three years in a mid-tier offense, and we won’t see his upside.
But if you believe that Pickett does have way more to show and will take another step forward in 2023, then now might be the time to give Pickens a second look before the value rises.
George Pickens’ Dynasty Fantasy Ranking
I don’t want to rely on Pickens as my No. 1 or No. 2 going into the season, but I have him ranked as a low-end WR2 in dynasty due to his trajectory. Currently, Pickens is the WR24 in PPR formats, and in Superflex, where QBs see an increase in value due to positional scarcity, he is the No. 64 player.
There is room for him to creep into the high-end WR2 territory if his path and development go as hoped because the talent is certainly there. I am in the camp that we should not evaluate QBs too harshly in Year 1, and the same goes for receivers. Don’t set the value based on who someone is now but who they can be down the road. That version of Pickens is going to be fun to watch.
There’s still decent value to be had in drafting Pickens — more than if you were trying to trade for him, which would cost something in the late-first-round 2023 range. The managers who have held on to him are likely doing so because they are also optimistic about his future and don’t want to miss out on the surge of value. Think DeVonta Smith and Amon-Ra St. Brown, for example.
When I’m trying to balance youth and upside, Pickens is exactly the type of player I would look to have on my dynasty roster heading into the 2023 offseason. He is someone that, if I did not snag in rookie drafts last year, I would be actively trying to trade for him this offseason.