The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted quarterback Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. What is Pickett’s fantasy football outlook, and where does his current ADP sit heading into 2022 fantasy football drafts?
Kenny Pickett’s fantasy outlook for 2022
Pickett was the lone quarterback to be selected in the first round of this past draft. The former Pitt Panther was able to stay local when the Steelers grabbed him with the 20th overall pick. As someone who had a mid-round grade on Pickett’s talent, the move was shocking since far more gifted passers were selected full rounds later.
Thus far, through training camp and preseason, Pickett has been far behind veterans Mitch Trubisky and possibly even Mason Rudolph. Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada is able to fully implement his offense now that Ben Roethlisberger isn’t exerting his will to do whatever he wants. In theory, this is great for both Trubisky and Pickett since they should benefit from misdirection and schemed targets.
Pickett is a one-read passer who can extend plays decently enough. He always goes to his right when he rolls out of pockets. He’s very accurate on short passes, but his lack of velocity and precision shows as he throws deeper down the field.
His struggles to identify defenses pre-snap is shocking, considering he was a fifth-year senior at Pitt. Despite his bloated numbers in 2021, Pickett is a developmental passer who would benefit from learning on the bench for much of this season.
If he has to play, Pickett is only usable in fantasy emergencies. Few rookies are good fantasy options to begin with, and Pickett is far from a top talent in the league.
How the Steelers’ depth chart impacts Kenny Pickett’s fantasy projection for the season
If anything, the best argument for Pickett’s potential fantasy relevance is his surrounding cast. Canada runs a unique offense that should manufacture some easier looks. Having playmakers like Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Chase Claypool, Pat Freiermuth, and Najee Harris should also help create easy production.
Having athletic, ball-dominant receivers is a major plus for a rookie who trusts his playmakers. Pickett showed a willingness to let his targets finish at the catch point in college, constantly feeding star Jordan Addison. With Johnson just receiving a contract extension and Pickens dominating in camp, these two should headline a very good receiving corps.
The Steelers’ offensive line is more of a concern after last season’s debacle. Whether they can protect Pickett long enough to keep his head clear from panic is a major question. If not, Pickett will start to scramble even out of clean pockets.
Pickett’s ADP for 2022
We expected Pickett to be a backup in Pittsburgh for the better part of the 2022 season, and nothing we’ve heard since the start of preseason has changed that. Pickett has played well in his time on the field and should be QB2 behind Trubisky. His ADP of 226th overall reflects his tough path to playing time and inexperience overall.
There are better quarterbacks going later than Pickett, such as Davis Mills, Marcus Mariota, and even Trubisky. It’s hard predicting success for a rookie who may not even see the field until late in the fantasy season. It’s also safer to reach slightly on a veteran who is firmly the starter for this season, such as Daniel Jones, Jared Goff, or Baker Mayfield.
The best situation to draft Pickett is in a 2QB Superflex league where you already have two studs at the top of the roster. Otherwise, opt for a more established backup or a fellow young starter who we know will see the field at some point this year.