2023 Receiving Stats
REC
63
YDS
1140
TD
5
AVG
18.1
TAR
106
2024 Projections
2023 Fantasy Outlook
A 2022 second-round pick, Pickens bounced back from a slow, injury-addled finish to his college career at Georgia and caught 52 passes for 801 yards and four touchdowns for the Steelers in his rookie season. He made a number of highlight-reel grabs and showed a particular affinity for contested catches, with the downside being that he struggled to gain separation and drew only 84 targets in 17 games. The Steelers seem to be expecting a step forward given their lack of noteworthy WR signings this offseason, and there's something to be said for not needing the smoothest route-running skills when you're 6-3 with 4.47 speed. Pickens, Diontae Johnson and TE Pat Freiermuth set up as the primary targets for second-year QB Kenny Pickett, who mostly struggled as a rookie but also showed progress as the year went along. It remains to be seen if Pickens can improve his agility and route-running now that he's more than two years removed from the ACL tear he suffered during a 2021 spring practice at UGA. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#
Overall
Tallies 65 total yards in loss
Pickens secured five of 11 targets for 50 yards and rushed once for 15 yards in the Steelers' 31-17 wild-card loss to the Bills on Monday afternoon. He also lost a fumble.
ANALYSIS
Pickens had serviceable numbers overall and co-led the Steelers in receptions while setting the pace in targets. However, it was largely a frustrating afternoon, beginning with a fumble on the Steelers' 29-yard in the latter portion of the first quarter that was eventually confirmed via replay, and that led to a touchdown on Buffalo's first play after gaining possession. Pickens also was the intended receiver on Mason Rudolph's fourth-down pass with 4:53 remaining that ended in an incompletion but also included what appeared to be a missed pass interference call that would have given the Steelers new life via a first down. Pickens finished the regular season with an impressive 63-1,140-5 line across 17 games despite subpar quarterback play, so he could be in for an even bigger season in 2024 if there is more stability under center.
Pickens had serviceable numbers overall and co-led the Steelers in receptions while setting the pace in targets. However, it was largely a frustrating afternoon, beginning with a fumble on the Steelers' 29-yard in the latter portion of the first quarter that was eventually confirmed via replay, and that led to a touchdown on Buffalo's first play after gaining possession. Pickens also was the intended receiver on Mason Rudolph's fourth-down pass with 4:53 remaining that ended in an incompletion but also included what appeared to be a missed pass interference call that would have given the Steelers new life via a first down. Pickens finished the regular season with an impressive 63-1,140-5 line across 17 games despite subpar quarterback play, so he could be in for an even bigger season in 2024 if there is more stability under center.
NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do George Pickens' 2023 advanced stats compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
Air Yards Per Game
84.4Air Yards Per Snap
1.61% Team Air Yards
40.0%% Team Targets
22.2%Avg Depth of Target
13.4 YdsCatch Rate
59.4%Drop Rate
2.8%Avg Yds After Catch
6.5% Targeted On Route
19.6%Avg Yds Per Route Run
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2023
2022
2023 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where George Pickens lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
Detailed
Grouped
Side
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2023 George Pickens Split Stats
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Measurables Review
View College Player Page
How do George Pickens' measurables compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 3"Weight
200 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.47 secVertical Jump
33.0 inBroad Jump
125 inHand Length
8.75 inArm Length
32.38 in
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Playoff game postponed a day
Pickens' wild-card round game against the Bills has been postponed from Sunday to Monday at 4:30 p.m. EST due to extreme weather conditions in Buffalo.
ANALYSIS
Pickens would have been unlikely to play a significant role Sunday, as gusty winds would have made it difficult to throw the ball. Calmer conditions Monday could allow the second-year wideout to put his downfield pass-catching ability on display, though it's still supposed to be a cold and possibly snowy afternoon in Buffalo.
Pickens would have been unlikely to play a significant role Sunday, as gusty winds would have made it difficult to throw the ball. Calmer conditions Monday could allow the second-year wideout to put his downfield pass-catching ability on display, though it's still supposed to be a cold and possibly snowy afternoon in Buffalo.
2022 Fantasy Outlook
If you look at his college stats, you might think Pickens was a reach in the second round. If you
remember how he was viewed a few years ago, you'd think he was a huge steal. The five-star
recruit had 727 yards and eight TDs as a true freshman, followed by 514 and six in eight games
as a sophomore, before an ACL tear last spring limited him to four appearances (and 107 yards)
at the tail end of his junior season. Pickens could've returned to Georgia in 2022 to rehab his
draft value, but he did a decent job of that anyway between the late-season return and his
respectable showing at the combine (4.47 40). Pickens weighs only 195, quite thin for a 6-3
receiver, and he turned 21 shortly before the draft. He thus seems most likely to start off as
Pittsburgh's third or fourth WR, but there's room to eventually make a move on No. 2 wide receiver Chase Claypool, the hyper-athletic 2020 second-rounder who disappointed last
season.
More Fantasy News
Minimal production in Week 18
Pickens wasn't targeted and rushed once for three yards during the Steelers' 17-10 win over Baltimore on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
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Another big performance
Pickens recorded seven receptions on nine targets for 131 yards in Sunday's 30-23 win over the Seahawks.
ANALYSIS
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Quiets critics with career game
Pickens caught four of six targets for 195 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's 34-11 win over the Bengals.
ANALYSIS
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Leads team in targets
Pickens recorded three receptions on seven targets for 47 yards in Saturday's 30-13 loss to the Colts.
ANALYSIS
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Team-high reception total in loss
Pickens secured five of six targets for 19 yards in the Steelers' 21-18 loss to the Patriots on Thursday night.
ANALYSIS
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