It sure was an eventful Cowboys debut for George Pickens in Week 1. Thrown into the fire against bitter rival and reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, Pickens was counted on in a significant way to produce alongside CeeDee Lamb. But Pickens’ receiving wasn’t the story of the game. It was his textbook clothesline in the third quarter that unraveled a red zone possession.
So now, we must ask the age-old question: Can we trust George Pickens in fantasy football?
Can you trust George Pickens in Week 2 fantasy?
Beyond the extracurriculars, it was a quiet debut for Pickens. He garnered only four targets, bringing in three of them for 30 total yards. It wasn’t for a lack of trying since Pickens played 56 out of 61 snaps and ran plenty of routes, often finding himself open. That level of involvement will inevitably lead to production. But, as he adjusts to a new team, is he going to be worth the start against the New York Giants?
It was not a banner week for New York’s secondary in Week 1 against the Commanders. Paulson Adebo did a fine job, allowing four completions on eight targets for 39 yards. His teammates, Andru Phillips and Cor’Dale Flott, did not fare as well. Adebo figures to see a lot of time on Lamb this week, leaving Pickens to work against less-talented corners.
This sharpens his outlook for this week considerably and gives fantasy managers much to ponder.
The Verdict
Pickens should absolutely be considered for a flex spot, with a bit more juice in standard or half-PPR leagues. He’ll have a lot of big-play appeal and can work himself open often against subpar corners. Unless he goes wild and finds himself benched or ejected, he’s bound to get high-value targets against the Giants. Trust Pickens to produce and make good on the faith that Dallas has placed in him.
