George Pickens vs Rome Odunze: Who Should You Start?
George Pickens and Rome Odunze are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. George Pickens averaged 14.4 PPG across 17 games with the Dallas Cowboys, while Rome Odunze posted 10.3 PPG in 12 appearances for the Chicago Bears.
A 4.1-PPG gap gives George Pickens the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Target volume is the story here. George Pickens saw 137 targets in 2025, while Rome Odunze drew 90. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for George Pickens, even in weeks where Rome Odunze posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.
One thing to note: both players share a Week 7 bye. That means you need a backup plan at wide receiver for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.
