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Preseason games are underway which means we are on the cusp of the fantasy football season starting once again. More and more fantasy leagues are preparing to draft, which means it's time to start familiarizing yourself with this year’s potential sleepers.
Identifying the players in the double-digit rounds of fantasy drafts is usually an edge for fantasy managers. Being able to find a player that has weekly starting upside as a positional or FLEX player can often be the difference between winning and losing leagues, especially if an early-round player suffers an injury.
One player to monitor throughout the preseason is rookie wide receiver, George Pickens.
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Will George Pickens Get Playing Time?
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Georgia wide receiver George Pickens in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft after letting veteran receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster walk in free agency. Pickens made an immediate impact with the Bulldogs his first two seasons (85 receptions, 1,240 yards, 14 touchdowns) before an ACL tear cost him most of his junior season, which ultimately caused him to fall into the second round of the draft.
Pickens has flashed huge playmaking ability in his first NFL training camp, routinely providing highlight catches in practice. That translated into his first preseason game against the Seahawks when Pickens made an excellent catch on a deep pass and got both of his feet down in the back of the end zone.
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Unfortunately, the Steelers return their top-4 targets from the 2021 passing attack, including wide receivers Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool. The good news? The Steelers were fourth in the league in three-receiver formations last season (75%). Given how good Pickens has looked this season and the lack of wide receiver depth on the Steelers, it seems very likely he will have a role in the Steelers' passing attack. Pickens may not start the season ahead of Johnson or Claypool in two wide receiver formations but could work his way into a bigger role if he keeps playing well or Claypool continues 2021 struggles.
Should I Draft Him In Fantasy Football?
In the last two weeks of NFC ADP, George Pickens is being selected with pick 144 (12th round) and is going off the board as WR65. At that price, Pickens has legitimate upside given his likely role in the offense and the frequency the Steelers will use three wide receiver formations. Pickens is not only winning downfield in camp but also showed the ability to do it against an opposing team.
There are reasons to be cautious about Pickens in his rookie season. He will be competing with two wide receivers on the depth chart that have shown the ability to produce in the NFL. The team also has a solid pass-catching tight end (Pat Freiermuth) and running back (Najee Harris) serving as check-down options and stealing targets when plays break down. The team has gotten inconsistent quarterback play from Mitch Trubisky and first-round pick, Kenny Pickett, throughout the summer and we also don’t know if the offensive line is any better than 2021, which can impact the offense's ability to push the ball downfield.
In the 12th round, Pickens is worth a flier given his training camp performance and the opportunity to make chunk plays down the field and in the red zone. However, given the competition on the team and uncertainty at quarterback, I’d be cautious pulling the trigger if the offseason hype pushes him into the 10th round or higher range.
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