After reports said he was expected to play, WR George Pickens ($6,700; hamstring) was a surprise inactive for the Steelers’ Week 14 win over the Browns this past Sunday. Now, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is reporting that Pickens is dealing with a grade two hamstring strain, which certainly doesn’t bode well for the receiver to return in Week 15 vs. the Eagles. He’s been called doubtful to play by Mike Tomlin, as well.
With Pickens missing his first game of the season this past Sunday, the Steelers’ receivers struggled to make an impact, despite this being an elite matchup vs. a Cleveland defense giving up the fourth-most yards per pass this season (7.3).
In the win over the Browns, Mike Williams ($3,800) led Pittsburgh’s receivers with 6.6 FPTS, while Calvin Austin ($3,600) posted 1.4 FPTS. Usage-wise, Williams saw a target on a compelling 31% of his routes, but he only ran a route on 45% of his team’s dropbacks. Austin saw a higher 51% route rate and a target on 20% of those routes. With Pickens missing from the picture, the Steelers used a very balanced attack, with nine different players seeing a target and no player running a route on more than 72% of the team’s dropbacks.
While Williams’ and Austin’s ability to earn targets was encouraging, investing in either player if Pickens sits again isn’t a wise move against the Eagles and their league-best defense. By a sizeable gap, Philadelphia is allowing the fewest yards per pass this season at 5.5.
The Eagles are yielding the second-fewest receiving yards to receivers this season (1,659) and while Williams’ and Austin’s cheap DFS salaries on DraftKings are tempting, both will bring little upside if Pickens sits. They will be risky plays.
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