Fantasy Football Draft Sleepers: George Pickens (2023)

Super Bowl LVII is in the books, and now we are in the dead period of the NFL offseason between the 2022 season being over and the start of NFL free agency. The next big event on the NFL calendar is the 2023 NFL Combine, which will give us some insight into how well the best college players exercise and run around in shorts. We know the NFL Draft is upon us when Rich Eisen runs his 40-yard dash, and we can start debating whether a player has the size, quickness, speed, and strength to play in the NFL.

This is also the time of year that we start speculating about players that were good in 2022 and are on the verge of breaking out in 2023. Several good wide receivers were only WR3’s in fantasy, due to poor quarterback situations, injuries, or they did not develop into great fantasy receivers until later in the season. All of them are hoping that 2023 is their year to be among the best wide receivers in the NFL.

Here is my look at some WR3 options from the 2022 season that could be looking at breaking out as a fantasy WR1 option in 2023. They all did great things in 2022, and they could all be on the cusp of monster fantasy seasons in 2023 if their teams commit to them being the centerpiece of their passing offenses and if the teams can fix some of their issues on offense this offseason.

WR3s With WR1 Potential (2023 Fantasy Football)

George Pickens (PIT)

I think what you think of Pickens is going to depend on what you think of Kenny Pickett’s rookie season. Pickett looked good at times, but he only had one 300-yard passing game, and he failed to throw multiple touchdowns in the same game. The Steelers did end the season winning six of their last seven games, but Pickett eclipsed 200 yards passing only once in those games. There was speculation that the Steelers could move on from offensive coordinator Matt Canada, but he is going to be back in 2023 as the play caller. Pickens is going to have to build on a rookie season that saw him post 49 receptions on 78 targets, 729 yards receiving, and three receiving touchdowns playing with the same offensive coordinator that did not like to stretch the field vertically in 2022.

Pickens flashed WR1 talent at times last year, but the Steelers ranked 24th in passing yards (3,411) and 32nd in passing touchdowns (12). There is no way that a wide receiver can hit WR1 numbers in an offense that throws the ball that poorly. Pickett did make strides in his rookie year, and he is going to need to make a jump in his second year to keep his job. If the Steelers make some upgrades on the offensive line and if Pickett can make the jump in his second year, Pickens is one of their most physically talented wide receivers in the NFL, and he could be the beneficiary of the increase in passing production that leads to him becoming a fantasy WR1 in his second year.

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