George Pickens or Isaiah Likely: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Pickens' sturdier role edges Likely's explosive opener

Start George Pickens: Dallas gives him the sturdier weekly foundation, with an 84% snap role as WR2 in a 28-point implied offense. Likely's eight-catch, two-touchdown opener and slot deployment show genuine upside (Yahoo Sports (PFF) 2026-09-14), but a 49% snap share makes that efficiency difficult to bank on weekly. Pickens' costly Week 1 drops remain the risk (NFL.com 2026-09-14), yet his role and scoring environment make the narrow edge more trustworthy than Likely's touchdown-driven ceiling.

What flips it: Another game of costly drops from Pickens.

Sources: Yahoo Sports (PFF) · Sep 14, 2026 · NFL.com · Sep 14, 2026

AI editor

George Pickens

George Pickens

WR12DALvs WSH

Projected Points

Start
Isaiah Likely

Isaiah Likely

TE14NYGvs LAR

Projected Points

Start· medium

George Pickens’s market

REC
O/U 4.5
-112 / -113
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 65.5
-113 / -113
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+140
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Isaiah Likely’s market

REC
O/U 4.5
-108 / -118
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 45.5
-112 / -112
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+275
Anytime Touchdown Props →
WSH@
DALSun, Sep 20, 4:25 PM ETView the game →
NYG@
LARMon, Sep 21, 8:15 PM ETView the game →

Why George Pickens

Start

WR2 and vertical X threat. Contested-catch dominance with elite ball tracking; 1,000-yard producer opposite Lamb.

Start — every-week WR start at consensus WR12: WSH is the 10th-toughest matchup vs WRs, 28.0 implied team total.

  • Dallas' high scoring expectation gives Pickens more paths to production than a splash-play-only profile.
  • Week 1 drops are the concern, but they have not cost him his starting outside role.

Latest on Pickens

Role

George Pickens had two costly drops in the first half of Week 1 against the Giants -- despite having no drops all of training camp -- and finished with just three catches for 28 yards.

NFL.com · Sep 14, 2026
Scheme

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Cowboys are hoping to unlock more versatility in Pickens, a traditional outside receiver, potentially including more snaps from the slot, motions, or odd alignments in 2026.

Yahoo Sports/Sporting News · Sep 10, 2026
George Pickens addresses Week 1 drops, Cowboys' team mindset for bouncing back

George Pickens was one of many who struggled in the opener against the Giants, but the All-Pro and the Cowboys have a plan for bouncing back against the Commanders.

dallascowboys.com · Sep 16, 2026
Cowboys' TD record: I caught a TD pass from Dak Prescott

Prescott needs four TDs to pass Tony Romo in the record book, so we sought the best moments from those who are helping him make history.

ESPN · Sep 16, 2026
George Pickens believes he and CeeDee Lamb are 'the best' WR duo in the NFL

Cowboys WR George Pickens believes that he and CeeDee Lamb are "the best" WR duo in the NFL. He discussed why, plus his goals for the season and how he feels "way more comfortable" in Dallas offense ahead of his second year with the team.

dallascowboys.com · Sep 9, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Isaiah Likely

Start· medium

Starting TE and pass-catching mismatch. Athletic seam-stretcher with red-zone flex ability.

28% target share and a 8-of-8, two-TD Week 1 line keep Likely in the TE1 mix; 8.5-point dog script means pass volume.

  • Likely's slot usage creates a receiver-like path to targets despite his limited tight-end snap role.
  • His underdog game script supports another pass-heavy outing if the Giants fall behind early.

The call

  • Week 1 usage is the whole case: a 28% target share with all eight targets caught for two scores, plus 17 slot snaps taken over from another starter, is TE1-level involvement no matter the 49% snap rate.
  • The 8.5-point spread and 20.0 implied total point to a chase script — more dropbacks, more underneath and seam work for the guy who is now the de facto slot option.
  • The DvP composite reads 7 of 32 (tough), but it's a one-game sample at 0.00 confidence, so it shouldn't outweigh a locked-in target role.
  • Risk is the sub-50% snap share: if the offense stays in heavier personnel or the game hangs close, volume could dip toward the TE14 projection rather than beat it.

Latest on Likely

Role

Likely led the Giants' Week 1 pass-catchers with an 82.8 PFF grade, catching all eight targets for two touchdowns and taking over much of the slot receiver role (17 slot snaps) previously held by Wan'Dale Robinson.

Yahoo Sports (PFF) · Sep 14, 2026
Isaiah Likely's Week 2 preview
VideoESPN · Sep 16, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricGeorge PickensIsaiah Likely
Projected points
Consensus rankWR12TE14
Opponent vs positionWSH · 10 of 321-game sampleLAR · 7 of 321-game sample
Receptions4 of 329 of 32
Receiving Yards13 of 329 of 32
Receiving TDs13 of 321 of 32
Targets6 of 3215 of 32
Anytime TD13 of 321 of 32
Target share20%28%
Reception share14%35%
Implied total · spread28.0-4.520.0+8.5
Depth chartWR2TE1
Snap share84%49%
Start/Sit record—1–0

Recent form

George Pickens — last 1 week

Week 1vs NYG

Isaiah Likely — last 1 week

Week 1vs DAL

Signal breakdown

  • 14.8 vs 11.0 projected PPR pointsGeorge Pickens +
  • Rank 12 vs 14George Pickens +
  • Opponent DvP rank 10 vs 7 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 28.0 vs 20.0 team pointsGeorge Pickens +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 84% vs 49% snap shareGeorge Pickens +

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