George Pickens Fantasy Outlook 2025: Should you draft Cowboys' new WR with Ceedee Lamb onboard?

George Pickens is in a brand-new situation entering the 2025 fantasy football season. He has previously spent his entire NFL career so far with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but is now a member of the Dallas Cowboys.

He is joining a more productive passing offense, but will also have significantly increased target competition. Here's how all of this impacts his fantasy outlook.

Should you draft Cowboys WR George Pickens in 2025?

George Pickens (Source: Getty)

George Pickens appears to be in a high-risk, high-reward situation for the 2025 fantasy football season. His move to the Cowboys includes several factors that both lower his floor, but also raise his ceiling. Playing in a better passing offense could create more scoring opportunities, but he will no longer be his team's WR1 like he was last year with the Steelers.

CeeDee Lamb is fully expected to continue being the top target for Dak Prescott this season. What Pickens brings to their offense is a vertical threat, as well as a reliable WR2, that they have been severely missing in recent years. His overall upside makes him an intriguing pick in fantasy drafts, but his unknown volume in a new situation also comes with notable risk.

George Pickens' fantasy outlook in 2025

Pickens has averaged nearly 100 targets and more than 900 yards per season during his three years with the Steelers so far. It will be interesting to see if he can maintain, or even exceed, these averages in his first season with the Cowboys. While Lamb will almost certainly remain the top target, plenty of volume should be available for Pickens.

Brandin Cooks was a massive disappointment serving as the Cowboys' WR2 in recent years and they severely lack depth for the position in general. If Pickens can give Prescott another reliable target, especially as a vertical threat in an already high-scoring offense, he has intriguing upside in fantasy football this season.

Is George Pickens a good pick in fantasy football this year?

Targeting upside in fantasy football drafts has always been a valuable strategy for building the best overall rosters. Not many wide receivers at a similar ADP have as much upside as Pickens this year, though his floor as the Cowboys' WR2 does present some additional risks as compared to his status as the Steelers' WR1 previously.

In his three seasons with the Steelers, Pickens has recorded an average finish of the WR35 overall and has exceeded 100 targets twice. Playing in Prescott's high-powered passing offense gives him a desirable ceiling this year, as he could potentially be in line for a career-high finish.

Where should draft George Pickens this year?

Pickens vs Waddle vs Addison

Pickens currently ranks as the 63rd overall player and WR31 in 2025 fantasy football drafts, according to Fantasy Pros. This means that he profiles as a WR3 for many fantasy rosters and can be targeted around the sixth round of most drafts, depending upon the league's settings and format.

Sportskeeda's Who Should I Draft tool recommends selecting Pickens in favor of other wide receivers with a similar ADP, including Jaylen Waddle and Jordan Addison. All three of them serve as their NFL team's WR2, but Pickens' upside in a new offensive system makes him the preferred pick.