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    George Pickens playing under franchise tag in 2026

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    DAL Wide Receiver #3
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    Cowboys WR George Pickens will officially play under the franchise tag for the 2026 season.

    The July 15th deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign long-term deals came and went without Pickens signing a new deal. Cowboys executive vice president Steven Jones had said in April that “there won’t be negotiations on a long-term deal” with Pickens. The 25-year-old wide receiver showed up for mandatory minicamp and does not plan to hold out of training camp, either. He will play on a $27.3 million franchise tag and will either reach a contract extension after the season or enter unrestricted free agency in 2027. Pickens will be the WR2 across from CeeDee Lamb in 2026; both have ceilings in the fantasy WR1 range.
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  • DAL Wide Receiver #3
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    Pickens picked up two early receptions on the team’s first two possessions, contributing further by drawing a defensive pass interference penalty that would set up a CeeDee Lamb touchdown in the second quarter. An untimely drop on third down near the end of the first quarter halted any momentum he had in the box score as he would go on to notch a lone additional catch the rest of the game. The Cowboys managed only 52 offensive plays as they were dominated in both total offense and time of possession, while watching their defense allow the Giants to go 9-of-10 on third down. It is likely we see much more inspiring fantasy production the remainder of the season as Pickens plays out the year on the franchise tag. He enters a Week 2 home showdown against the Commanders as an upside WR2.
  • DAL Quarterback #4
    Solak’s prediction was among his bold predictions for the 2026 NFL season. Prescott having a shot at 5,000 yards, Solak said, would hinge on the Cowboys remaining a fast-paced offense in 2026. Last season the Cowboys led the league in play clock remaining at the snap and offensive plays per game, leading to 600 passes for Dak — a career high. The wideout duo of George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb won’t hurt matters for Prescott, who has eclipsed 4,500 passing yards three times in his NFL career. Pickens’ downfield ability was reflected in Prescott finishing sixth in deep ball accuracy last season. “The volume will be there for Prescott to not just lead the league in passing in 2026 but to once again challenge for the 5,000-yard milestone,” Solak said. Quarterbacks have thrown for more than 5,000 yards just 14 times in league history.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #3
    Schottenheimer began this section of the press conference by saying that he was very pleased with Pickens’ playbook preparedness when he showed up for mandatory minicamp this week. He did not attend organized team activities, so this is great to hear. Regarding Pickens’ pre-snap alignment, he will not just play X-receiver this season — Schottenheimer notes that Pickens does not like doing that anyway. Schottenheimer plans to line Pickens up in the slot, and isolated on the front side, on the same side as the tight end. Pickens logged just 77 slot snaps last season and 891 out wide. Giving him more opportunities to run routes against safeties and linebackers from the slot will increase his fantasy-scoring floor and ceiling. Schottenheimer also plans to expand Pickens’ route tree and build elements of the offense around his strengths, noting Pickens’ slant route successes last season in particular. He’s a WR1.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #3
    Pickens’ current ADP is in the 20-30 range and we expect most analysts will give him a little bump now that he’s not holding out of camp. CeeDee Lamb’s health clearly played a role in Pickens’ 2025 season, as did Dallas’ cataclysmically bad defense. Still, he has a real chance to finish as a WR1 this year and full reps at training camp can only help him out as he plays out the franchise tag.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #3
    After staying away from the team during voluntary workouts, Pickens is officially in the facilities and “is expected to attend mandatory minicamp this Tuesday, Wednesday, [and] Thursday,” per Machota. The Cowboys franchise tagged Pickens earlier this offseason, but the star receiver is still hoping to secure a long-term deal before the start of this season, although the Cowboys have said they don’t intend to negotiate with him ahead of the July deadline to sign tagged players to multi-year deals. In his first season with the Cowboys, Pickens enjoyed a career year, totaling 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns — all of which were career-highs. His decision to report to minicamp is a good sign, although that could simply be out of a desire to avoid being fined for his absence. How much he participates in practice over the three-day period will be worth watching as the week unfolds.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #3
    Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer told reporters last week that he expects Pickens to attend mandatory minicamp this week, which is scheduled to run from June 16-18. Schottenheimer quickly clarified that Pickens has not “committed” to doing so. When asked if he plans to attend, Pickens reportedly shrugged and said, “uhhh” before a representative stepped in to end the conversation. Pickens is set to make $27.3 million this season by playing on the franchise tag this season. He is still seeking a long-term extension, but the front office has made it clear that it does not plan to extend Pickens this offseason. Should Pickens skip minicamp sessions, he would be fined daily. It is tough to guess as to what will happen here, but minicamp absences would likely drive Pickens’ ADP downward. At this time of the year, we advise buying the dip.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #3
    The Cowboys’ mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 16-18. Pickens is not present for the Cowboys’ voluntary organized team activities, but head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Pickens is “in a good spot and handling his business” after speaking with the wide receiver yesterday. Pickens signed his franchise tag late in April and is set to make $27.3 million this season. Trade speculation has not amounted to anything thus far, and it sounds like Pickens will show up when he is supposed to later this month.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #3
    The Cowboys were initially reported to be placing the franchise tag on Pickens prior to the NFL draft, prompting speculation he would be dealt during the draft. However, Pickens did not sign the $27.3 million tag immediately, leaving him out of any potential trade conversations. Now, the Cowboys announce Pickens has officially signed his franchise tag. He now plays on a one-year, $27.3 million fully guaranteed deal for 2026 while aiming to negotiate a new contract with Dallas or another team that would agree to acquire and sign him to a long-term deal.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #3
    ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported shortly before the start of Day 1 of last week’s draft that Pickens would be signing his franchise tag. Now, it appears that is not the case. Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said last week that the team would not have negotiations with Pickens for a long-term deal this year, but it’s possible that Pickens and his team may take their time to see if a deal can still be reached. There’s not much we know here other than Pickens hasn’t signed his tag, but with the deadline to sign tags still over two months away, Pickens has plenty of time to see if the Cowboys are willing to budge and ink him to a new deal rather than force him to play on the one-year tag. If he does play on the tag, Pickens would earn a guaranteed $27.3 million.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #3
    Pickens signed his franchise tag a little over an hour ago, prompting trade speculation. The Cowboys were unable to move him if he remained unsigned. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones shared yesterday that the team had decided not to pursue a long-term deal with Pickens at this time. If they do indeed keep him, he will make $27.3 million this year. That said, things can change quickly, and Rapoport said nothing about the Cowboys’ plans for tomorrow.

Rotoworld

  • MIN Quarterback #1
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the Vikings do not know if Kyler Murray will progress through concussion protocol in time to play in Week 2’s game against the Bears.

    Murray was in a fencing posture after taking a hit to the head from Javon Bullard in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Packers. Murray was reportedly in good spirits after the game, but he will have to pass a series of tests in the coming days in time to be cleared for next week’s game against the Bears. While the Vikings are unsure whether or not Murray will be available, it’s not at all uncommon for a concussed player to miss the following week’s game. We’ll see how things unfold over the week, but we wouldn’t be surprised if Carson Wentz draws the start next week with J.J. McCarthy serving as his backup.
  • BAL Wide Receiver #4
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Zay Flowers’ hamstring injury is “not considered serious” after Week 1’s win over the Colts.

    Flowers will have an MRI to confirm the exact severity of his injury, but according to Rapoport, sources familiar with the situation said Flowers likely would have returned to the field if it were a playoff game. The Ravens held a 31-13 lead over the Colts at halftime, thanks in large part to Flowers’ 5-150-1 line in the first half. Flowers is reportedly considered day-to-day at this time, meaning he could have a good shot at suiting up for Week 2 against the Saints.
  • NYG Wide Receiver #88
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    Malachi Fields caught 2-of-4 targets for 25 yards in the Giants’ Week 1 win over the Cowboys.

    The rookie wide receiver showcased an all-around polished skillset that included trust in the run game, reinforcing offseason reports that he had locked down the WR2 role opposite Malik Nabers. His 6'4, 220-pound frame was on full display as he was continually utilized as both a down-blocker and blocker in the second level on runs, something that should allow him to continue to operate as the clear-cut WR2 for the Giants throughout his rookie campaign. That said, the box scores highlights the obvious distinction that his snap rate won’t always translate to fantasy production while playing alongside Nabers and tight end Isaiah Likely, the latter two of whom commanded 17 targets on 29 Jaxson Dart pass attempts. The good news is that he played well ahead of veterans Darnell Mooney and Odell Beckham Jr. Fantasy managers are best off viewing Fields as a high-end stash at the end of benches for the time being.
  • NYG Wide Receiver #1
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    Malik Nabers caught 6-of-9 targets for 69 yards in the Giants’ Week 1 win over the Cowboys.

    Nabers took his decision to play all the way up to inactives, ultimately deeming himself healthy enough to take the field against a divisional rival. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy didn’t take long to knock the rust off his alpha receiver, giving him a quick out on his first target to get his feet wet and get into the flow of the game. Nabers would make numerous athletic plays from that point forward, combining with newcomer tight end Isaiah Likely to account for 17 targets on only 29 Jaxson Dart pass attempts. Fantasy managers can likely project that volume forward as the offense appeared to run entirely through its top two options through the air in the opening game. Nabers gets a difficult matchup against the Rams in Week 2, where he remains a back end WR1 in fantasy circles.
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    Isaiah Likely caught all eight targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns in the Giants’ Week 1 win over the Cowboys.

    Making his debut for a new team, Likely didn’t wait long to prove he can be a featured tight end for the Giants, scoring on the final possession of the first half and first possession after the break. His first score highlighted his athleticism as he escaped coverage to the corner of the end zone from 15 yards out while his second trip to paint was reminiscent of a Nagy design for Travis Kelce in which the veteran tight end shed a chip-block in the flat for an easy score from two yards. Likely looks every bit of a fantasy TE1 but gets a difficult matchup against the Rams in Week 2. Even so, you’re starting him if you got him.
  • NYG Running Back #44
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    Cam Skattebo rushed 18 times for 81 yards and a touchdown in the Giants’ Week 1 win over the Cowboys.

    Although Skattebo was not targeted in the pass game, his 18 carries handily led the team. Furthermore, presumed backup Tyrone Tracy lost a fumble on one of his two carries, resulting in Devin Singletary taking over primary backup duties for the remainder of the game. Those two variables should keep Skattebo’s weekly volume high after showing no ill effects of the devastating ankle injury suffered in 2025. His touchdown now gives him eight total scores in nine professional appearances despite only six of those being starts, a rate that will keep Skattebo in the weekly RB1 discussion moving forward. That said, fantasy managers could be forced to test their depth ahead of a Week 2 matchup against the Rams on the road.
  • NYG Quarterback #6
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    Jaxson Dart completed 23-of-29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns in the Giants’ 28-20, Week 1 win over the Cowboys, adding 54 yards on 11 carries.

    Dart managed to convert 9-of-10 third downs as the Giants completely controlled the flow of the game against their divisional rivals, leading to over 13 more minutes of possession than the Cowboys. Fantasy managers will also be ecstatic about the 11 rush attempts, specifically due to the fact that over half of those were designed carries in Matt Nagy’s offense. Touchdown passes to tight end Isaiah Likely book-ended halftime, with the second-year quarterback adding a third to running back Devin Singletary in the fourth quarter. Nagy’s offense appears to be locked into the team’s top two options through the air, highlighted by the 17 combined targets filtered to Malik Nabers and Likely. Dart’s passing volume could see a significant uptick when the Giants hit the road to face the Rams in Week 2, during which fantasy managers can treat him as a back end QB1.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #19
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    Ryan Flournoy caught 2-of-4 targets for 22 yards in the Cowboys’ Week 1 loss to the Giants.

    The veteran receiver inked a one-year contract extension this offseason to retain his supporting role in the high-powered Dallas offense, but the early returns were less than inspiring. Flournoy appeared to have a stranglehold on the WR3 duties for the Cowboys but will be hard-pressed to return consistent fantasy production for as long as both CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens remain healthy. He’ll be a boom-bust WR4 in a plus matchup against the Commanders in Week 2.
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    Jake Ferguson caught both targets for six yards in the Cowboys’ Week 1 loss to the Giants.

    The Cowboys were dominated in both time of possession and total offense on a night the Giants converted 9-of-10 third downs, resulting in the poor showing in the box scores for the veteran tight end. Ferguson’s stark fantasy splits when both CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are healthy remain a concern for fantasy managers that invested a middle-round pick in his services, something that a home matchup against a forgiving Commanders defense could remedy. Even so, Ferguson is nothing more than a middling TE2 in Week 2.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #3
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    George Pickens caught 3-of-6 targets for 28 yards in the Cowboys’ Week 1 loss to the Giants.

    Pickens picked up two early receptions on the team’s first two possessions, contributing further by drawing a defensive pass interference penalty that would set up a CeeDee Lamb touchdown in the second quarter. An untimely drop on third down near the end of the first quarter halted any momentum he had in the box score as he would go on to notch a lone additional catch the rest of the game. The Cowboys managed only 52 offensive plays as they were dominated in both total offense and time of possession, while watching their defense allow the Giants to go 9-of-10 on third down. It is likely we see much more inspiring fantasy production the remainder of the season as Pickens plays out the year on the franchise tag. He enters a Week 2 home showdown against the Commanders as an upside WR2.