Pittsburgh Steelers WR George Pickens' Fantasy Outlook for Week 15

George Pickens is the number two pass catcher for the Pittsburgh Steelers, a side that has one of the most interesting quarterback battles in the NFL.

Pickens has proved to be an asset in his rookie year for the Steelers, whether he's catching passes from fellow rookie Kenny Pickett or the more experienced Mitchell Trubisky. While he gets fewer targets than Diontae Johnson, we are confident that, over time, he could remedy that.

Pickens was selected from NCAA powerhouse Georgia University, where he was one of the side's most potent weapons. He was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, a masterstroke following the Steelers' selection of Kenny Pickett in the first round.

The Steelers made these early draft picks with their future in mind, and a 5-8 record heading into week 15 isn't bad for a rebuilding franchise. Long gone are the days of Big Ben slinging passes to a young Antonio Brown, but who knows, maybe we have entered the era of Kenny Pickett tossing the rock to George Pickens.

George Pickens' Fantasy Outlook

George Pickens is playing in his first season in the big leagues, with the Georgia Bulldogs alum being one of the more heralded wide receiver prospects heading into the 2022 NFL Draft. Some draft boards had him going in the first round, but most saw him being selected in the second draft round. The latter was the case, as Pickens got snagged by the Pittsburgh Steelers with their second-round pick.

His fantasy outlook this season has been a mixed bag. Over his last five games, he has had a combined total of 21 targets, catching 14. While fellow wide receiver Johnson has been a consistent and underwhelming player all year, Pickens has flashed ceilings in four games this year.

He is a low-end WR3/high-end WR4 that will run about 85% of his routes against Horn and Henderson in the Steelers' week 15 matchup against the Lions.

How is George Pickens performing this season?

George Pickens is having a decent rookie season, considering the circumstances he finds himself in at the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is learning a very different system from what he grew accustomed to at Georgia.

The player is catching touchdown passes from different quarterbacks every week, and the defenders are faster and better. Hence, fans and critics should appreciate the rookie's efforts in Pittsburgh more.

Pickens is currently putting up a stat line of 40 receptions, 590 receiving yards, and two touchdowns in 13 games this season.