Higgins for Pickens straight up offer

[willistylz1979]

Team 1 in Sig 12 TM 1QB PPR

So owner of Tee Higgins sent over a 1 for 1 offer for my Pickens.
Now normally I’d just accept something like this since it feels like I’m getting the better player here. I’m pretty excited to see what Pickens can do as WR1 with Russ.
Is this a smash accept? Does anyone here value Pickens over Tee and why?

[TheTroll]

Higgins by a fair amount right now

[BabyChark23]

I prefer Higgins, but I know some people are really high on Pickens.

[Shortie]

I have always liked Pickens and drafted him ahead of consensus in his rookie year.

This is still easily Higgins.

[Black Adam]

Turned down a '24 2nd (turned out to be 2.02) and Pickens for Higgins.

[Anteaters]

Pickens for me, but to pacify Higgins' Heroes I'll say this is Personal preference.
Currently, Higgins is the WR2 in Cincy. Barring an injury to Chase, Higgins will be lucky to produce fantasy low-end WR2 stats.
After the DJ trade, Pickens is the unquestioned WR1 in Pittsburgh and will see convincing target %. A fantasy Top12 season is within the realm of possibilities for 2024.

Let's look at Pickens 2023 season compared to the best season from Higgins...
Pickens 2023: 106 TAR, 63 REC, 1140 YDS, 5 TDs
Higgins 2021: 110 TAR, 74 REC, 1091 YDS, 6 TDs
And now that Pickens is the unchallenged undisputed WR1 for PITT, I expect a boost in production.

Aside from some sort of brain muscle memory mistakenly holding on to some old fantasy ranking stats, why would anyone think Higgins is the clear choice here? Even when Chase missed a chunk of the season in 2022, Higgins' stats didn't look any different than his 2021 season. Higgins is what he is, and that's not some guy waiting to put up a fantasy WR1 season. Not to mention that in 2024, Pickens will no longer be playing with one of the 3 worst starting QBs in the NFL. Are people really still using "character" issues to devalue Pickens?

Higgins is a very useful fantasy player. Right now, Pickens has the higher ceiling and is the better option.

EDIT: I predict that by this time next year, a lot of managers will be complaining about how hard it is to acquire Pickens without a huge overpay. I really think Pickens is going to make a climb up the rankings similar to recent ones by AJB, Lamb and ARSB over the past season or two. Don't wait until AFTER Pickens makes the leap to try to acquire him. Make an offer today at an overpay for today's value ... 12months from now, that "overpay" you pay today will be half the price Pickens will cost then.

[gunfrees]

Great post Ant - I’m in a startup draft now trying to choose between the two and it’s been difficult with just how polarizing Pickens is in the community

[BigBawseRoss]

pickens for me. 16th most rec yards in the nfl last year and we didnt see regular volume or quality qb play at any point in time.

im also a massive pickens guy and have a billion shares and think hes still one of the best values in all of dynasty. before these offseason moves he was still somehow going off the board in startups as WR28 lol. hes prob up closer to wr20 now but still a value to me.

[Buckhill Bombers]

Higgins higher floor, Pickens higher ceiling.

[frerichs5]

Even when Chase missed a chunk of the season in 2022, Higgins' stats didn't look any different than his 2021 season. Higgins is what he is, and that's not some guy waiting to put up a fantasy WR1 season.

I’ve got no problem agreeing these two could be personal preference. I do think the quote here is misleading though.

Higgins averages in games without Chase:
6.2 catches
102.2 yards
0.6 TD

Small sample and I wouldn’t argue if someone pushed back that he wouldn’t average that over a full season, but in my opinion, WR1 ability is clearly there. Just a matter of if he ever gets that opportunity and we’ll see what happens.

I don’t blame anyone on either side of this one.

[willistylz1979]

This is why I didn’t auto accept since I felt they are very close in value. He obviously likes Pickens more since he initiated the offer.
Then there’s the trade request from Tee and if he gets moved and where.
Upgrading to Russ and after seeing what he did with Courtland Sutton, could be huge for Pickens.
I feel confident that Pickens out scores Higgins at least this season, going forward, who knows. Lots of variables after this season.
Pickens also being the younger of the two is worth thinking about.

[Viking386]

Im not usually a fan of these 1 for 1 same tier WRs. It doesnt really add much value and this is a coin flip. I prefer Higgins as I think he is more talented but Id try and squeeze some value out of him since he clearly believes Pickens is better and try to grab a 2nd on top.

[FantasyFreak]

I'd want Pickens. Swing for the fences.