Raiders Opponent Breakout Player: WR George Pickens

When the Las Vegas Raiders take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football, they will match up with second-year wide receiver George Pickens.

The Las Vegas Raiders welcome the Pittsburgh Steelers to Allegiant Stadium for Sunday Night Football in a few days.

The Raiders are coming off of a blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills, while the Steelers are coming off of a bounce-back win against the Cleveland Browns.

The Raiders will be looking to clean things up on both sides of the ball, especially defensively, after allowing 38 points to the Bills. They also allowed the Bills to convert seven-of-13 third downs and three-of-four fourth downs.

The Raiders will face Pittsburgh’s second-year wide receiver George Pickens, a player in the midst of a breakout season. Pickens caught four passes for 127 yards and a touchdown against the Browns on Monday night.

With wide receiver Diontae Johnson expected to miss significant time because of a hamstring injury, Pickens looks to be the featured player in the Steelers’ passing game. His rapport with second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett is evident, as he received 10 targets on Monday and seven in Week 1.

Pickens was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Georgia, but had clear first-round talent. He caught 90 passes for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns in his three-year career with the Bulldogs. His numbers could have been much higher, but injuries and Georgia’s offensive play style limited his production.

Pickens had an impressive rookie season, catching 52 passes for 801 yards and four touchdowns. He made himself known to Raiders fans by catching five passes for 57 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in a comeback victory over the Silver and Black in Week 16 last season.

Pickens is 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, possessing great physical size for an outside receiver. He plays with an ultra-competitive edge, overpowering his defender with physicality off his release and getting open with 4.4 speed. He also has elite ball-tracking skills, able to adjust to where the ball is thrown and make difficult catches.

The Raiders will have to be prepared for Pickens, as Pickett will throw his way often. If the Raiders’ defensive backs cannot match his physicality, Pickens will win his one-on-one match-ups.

Pickens is showing flashes of why he can be a No. 1 option in a passing game, and he will try to continue to do so against the Raiders on Sunday.

The Silver and Black return home to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Sept. 24, at 8:20 p.m. EDT/5:20 p.m. PDT.

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