RADIO
Brant's fantasy football outlook for new Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens and other impacted players. Risers and fallers from the George Pickens trade.
The Dallas Cowboys finally made a splashy move on Wednesday morning, when many awoke to the news of fourth-year wide receiver George Pickens being dealt from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a third-round pick and a late-round pick swap.
The move filled a clear need in Dallas, which previously had a barren wide receiver room behind CeeDee Lamb. Given his upcoming expiring contract and the mega-contract that Pittsburgh handed to DK Metcalf this offseason, Pickens had been rumored to be on the trade block.
While the big trade fills a need in Dallas, it creates a need in Pittsburgh. Let’s dig into the full fantasy football fallout of the post-draft trade.
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Dallas Cowboys Fantasy Football Outlook
Despite adding another mouth to feed, this trade significantly boosted the fantasy outlook of many Dallas Cowboys.
Dak Prescott was viewed by many as a loser of the 2025 NFL Draft after the Cowboys surprisingly neglected the receiver position throughout the entire draft. That is no longer the case, as the receiver tandem of Lamb and Pickens instantly creates one of the top 10 duos in the league.
Suddenly, Dak Prescott is throwing to the best WR duo in the NFL.
Name a duo better than Lamb and Pickens. I dare you. pic.twitter.com/u7LNTFiUdu
— Fantasy Farmer (@TFFDudes) May 7, 2025
Pair that with what should be a much-improved offensive line after getting Cooper Beebe and Tyler Guyton a year of experience, and Prescott has a top-5 quarterback ceiling for fantasy in 2025.
Brian Schottenheimer had this team passing at the sixth-highest clip in the league in 2024, and that was primarily with Cooper Rush under center. With a lack of running back talent and his franchise quarterback healthy, it is clear that Schottenheimer will aim to air the ball out again in 2025. Prescott has two top-three fantasy finishes in his career and could be in line for another stellar season.
CeeDee Lamb
While Lamb will no longer push to break records with his target share, adding Pickens should loosen some coverage on the star receiver now that there is another legitimate threat on the other side of the field.
Lamb is still the clear-cut alpha receiver in this offense and will see more than enough usage to compete for the overall WR1 in fantasy. With his target share taking a bit of a hit but his efficiency potentially increasing, the acquisition of Pickens nets as a neutral for Lamb’s fantasy status. Keep taking him as a top-end receiver.
The player who was hurt the most by the Pickens trade was tight end Jake Ferguson. Operating as Prescott’s second option for the past two seasons, Ferguson now slots third in the pecking order behind Lamb and Pickens.
The Wisconsin product struggled to develop a rapport with backup quarterback Rush last season and failed to record a single touchdown. While he should take a step forward with Prescott back under center in 2025, his floor as a consistent week-to-week option due to high volume has dropped a bit.
Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin
Any secondary Cowboys weapon hoping to become a consistent target earner just saw their fantasy stock plummet. Tolbert showed flashes last season, finishing with 610 yards and seven touchdowns. Turpin saw usage both through the air and on the ground, carving out an offensive role late in the year.
Both players could have entered the season as solid late-round dart throw options, but they are now afterthoughts, with Pickens solidified as the second option in the offense.
Pittsburgh Steelers Fantasy Football Outlook
On the flip side, Pittsburgh's dry offense is left even more barren with the departure of their former WR1. Let's take a look at how the Pickens trade impacts each player.
Mason Rudolph, Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard
The Steelers’ quarterback questions are still unresolved. Aaron Rodgers has been tied to them for a while, but appears to be in no hurry to decide on playing next season as summer inches closer. That leaves Mason Rudolph and sixth-round rookie Will Howard as the top two options.
Neither quarterback was ever an option in traditional fantasy leagues, but in leagues where multiple quarterbacks are started, both options take a clear hit with the dealing of Pickens.
Steelers offense going from
Russell Wilson
Najee Harris
George Pickensto
Mason Rudolph
Kaleb Johnson
DK Metcalf pic.twitter.com/ik5qy4db9L— OTL (@OTLFFootball) May 7, 2025
The receiver room now features Metcalf, Robert Woods, Calvin Austin III, Scotty Miller, Roman Wilson, and Ben Skowronek. There is a real lack of talent in what projects as a slow-paced, run-first offense under Arthur Smith.
UPDATE: Aaron Rodgers is Signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers
DK Metcalf
DK Metcalf is a winner of the George Pickens trade, for pretty obvious reasons. While he was projected as the WR1A alongside Pickens, he is now the unquestioned top target in Pittsburgh’s offense. With the lack of talent behind him, Metcalf should be headed for a lion’s share of targets despite the run-first mentality of Arthur Smith.
Metcalf’s ceiling is capped by questionable quarterback play and a slow-paced offense, but he should see the most consistency he has ever seen in his six-year career. Stock up for the 6-foot-4 physical specimen.
Pat Freiermuth is now one of the best tight end values in fantasy with the departure of Pickens. Opposite of the Ferguson situation, Freiermuth is now the clear-cut second option for a quarterback who may lean heavily on safety blanket options.
The fifth-year product out of Penn State tied his career high with seven touchdowns a season ago, finishing as the TE9 in fantasy. He should again profile as a low-end TE1, given his volume should be similar to last season’s as the number two option in the offense. You know what you’re getting with Freiermuth. Low ceiling, high floor. The floor is that much higher now with Pickens off the roster.
Kaleb Johnson, Jaylen Warren
Only a slight uptick here, but moving on from Pickens and still failing to address the quarterback position makes it pretty clear that Arthur Smith is set to again rely on the ground game.
Third-round rookie Kaleb Johnson should step into the early-down role immediately, and Jaylen Warren likely keeps his role as a change-of-pace back. These two should both see significant enough touches to be relevant in fantasy, especially now with one less mouth to feed with Pickens departed.
George Pickens Fantasy Football Outlook
George Pickens leaves the 28th-ranked team in passing rate to join the sixth-ranked team in passing rate in 2024. Both teams appear to be gearing up for more of the same in 2025. Pickens would have been the second receiving option in Pittsburgh behind DK Metcalf, and now slots in as the second option in Dallas behind CeeDee Lamb.
All that to say, Pickens’ fantasy value is on the rise following the trade. Dallas does not appear equipped to run the ball a lot in 2025, meaning the second pass catcher has WR2 value with the potential for very strong spike weeks. The Georgia product has flashed big-play ability in the past and will now have more opportunities to get the ball in his hands. Previously, the top receiving option in Pittsburgh, the presence of Lamb, should free up more space for him to work with as well. Invest in the fourth-year pass catcher in 2025.
BREAKING: Steelers to trade WR George Pickens to the Cowboys. (via @rapsheet, @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/Eh9kMstOPu
— NFL (@NFL) May 7, 2025
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