George Pickens - Hold/Sell

[Eli4Prez]

For the team in my signature looking to get opinions on how the community views Pickens. I took him 1.09 in last year’s rookie draft. However I have some good depth in young WRs and got a trade offer for the team that had the 1.01 last year largely in a tanking effort. He is probably closer to a mid-round team this year.

Give:

George Pickens, Deuce Vaughn, and 2024 3rd

Get:

Nico Collins, Michael Carter, and 2024 1st

Feel like if the pick ends up being 1.05 or higher it could help me grab another RB in the rookie draft. Or do I hold Pickens and hope for the breakout.

[moishetreats]

1st is the best piece by far (especially in a start 2WR). And I like Nico better than Vaughn + 3rd, so you're getting the first and third best pieces. That side for me easily.

[jponte3]

I’d sell pickens in that deal in a heartbeat. Also like nico as well and think he could be someone who has a good jump in valhe by the end of the year

[Avery]

I'd sell Pickens for a first next year. Nico + Carter is a nice little add in.

[Gator Sens]

He is one of those players that is a bit risky to move or hold but you come out ahead on value if you do want to move on. Hard to see Pickens being a big time fantasy producer unless the offense really makes a jump.

[FantasyFreak]

Good chance Pickens is worth more this time next year. Your call, if it's top 5 for sure, solid offer. Pickens is looking really good, and I'm not going to be surprised if he goes something like 70/1100/8 and at 22 years, that's going to be valuable next year.

[tstafford]

Getting a first for Pickens seems solid to me.

Pickens is a polarizing player. He's clearly very talented at contested catches and that makes for impressive highlights. The issue is either the Steelers only ask him to run down the field and make those catches or that's all he can do. He's got a very high yards per target, low target volume and hasn't produced TDs. So far he's a low rent version of Gabe Davis or Mike Williams.

To make a bit of a counter argument, folks might be saying exactly the same thing about Christian Watson if it wasn't for the TDs. But Watson is clearly not treated the same as Pickens by the fantasy community. And we can't say it's all about the two different offenses. We don't really know what GBP will be like at this point and it's unclear if they are all that better for Watson than PIT is for Pickens.

[FantasyFreak]

Getting a first for Pickens seems solid to me.

Pickens is a polarizing player. He's clearly very talented at contested catches and that makes for impressive highlights. The issue is either the Steelers only ask him to run down the field and make those catches or that's all he can do. He's got a very high yards per target, low target volume and hasn't produced TDs. So far he's a low rent version of Gabe Davis or Mike Williams.

To make a bit of a counter argument, folks might be saying exactly the same thing about Christian Watson if it wasn't for the TDs. But Watson is clearly not treated the same as Pickens by the fantasy community. And we can't say it's all about the two different offenses. We don't really know what GBP will be like at this point and it's unclear if they are all that better for Watson than PIT is for Pickens.

Pickens had a much better rookie season than Gabe, though, reception and yardage wise. He was coming off a lost season from college, and still managed 800 yards, 50 grabs, and led his team in receiving TD's. The QB play was the main reason for the low TD's, which he still led the team in. He didn't have Josh Allen throwing, he had some of the worst QB play in the league. His profile and NFL start is a lot better than Gabe Davis. He projects to be a much better player. Pickett looks a lot better this year, so I'd expect the TD's to rise.

[tstafford]

Pickens had a much better rookie season than Gabe, though, reception and yardage wise. He was coming off a lost season from college, and still managed 800 yards, 50 grabs, and led his team in receiving TD's. The QB play was the main reason for the low TD's, which he still led the team in. He didn't have Josh Allen throwing, he had some of the worst QB play in the league. His profile and NFL start is a lot better than Gabe Davis. He projects to be a much better player. Pickett looks a lot better this year, so I'd expect the TD's to rise.

Like I said, polarizing. I'm selling for a 1st. But that's just me.

Side note - your comment that he led the team in TDs is, while accurate, a funny argument to make. He had the same number of receiving TDs as Najee who by all accounts is dynasty garbage.

Jokes aside - it is statistically impossible that PIT has fewer passing TDs this year than last!!

[The.Big.Spank]

I would be happy to trade Vaughn and a 3rd for Collins. He could be Houston's WR1. He is big, young, athletic and has gotten better and increased his target share every year and has only Hutchinson to match his skill set in Houston. So "win" there.

Pickens does not separate. This concerns me. So far he has been a straight line contested catch WR. If this was a different draft year I would probably hold Pickens, but 2024 will have at least 4 impact players, 2 QB's, 1WR, 1TE. Given the strength and depth of your team, I can make that trade for that 24 lottery ticket and not be heartbroken if isn't an early pick. If he is, that is a super win.

[dblj1199]

Give me the 1st here.