Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

King of Props: Looks like easy Pickens

By John Dudley | Last updated Sep 22, 2022 9:06 AM ET

Separated by only 135 miles, Pittsburgh and Cleveland have a football rivalry that’s the oldest in the AFC, dating back more than 70 years. But it has largely been one-sided since the Browns returned to the league in 1999, as they haven’t earned a season sweep since 1988. The Steelers won both matchups last year, and we’re counting on their newest weapon to deliver our prop play on Thursday night:

The bet: Over 2½ receptions for Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (FanDuel)

A talented rookie who fell to the second round in the draft because of the injuries he sustained at Georgia, Pickens generated a ton of buzz this summer. He started the first preseason game, caught the first pass thrown by new quarterback Mitch Trubisky, and finished as the co-leader in targets with five.

That debut saw Pickens make three catches for 43 yards and a touchdown, and he was likewise targeted five times and had three receptions in the finale. Yet he has recorded just a single catch in each of the first two regular-season games despite playing nearly every passing snap.

Quotes from several sources indicate that the breakout is coming. Never lacking for confidence, Pickens estimated that he was open “90% of the time” in last week’s game against the Patriots. Trubisky admitted, “I think I can look for 14 more often,” and offensive coordinator Matt Canada said, “I’d love to get George more involved.”

Against a secondary that was just torched by Jets QB Joe Flacco, anything less than three grabs for Pickens would be a travesty.

Our Bark Bets sports betting newsletter has the news, picks and analysis smart bettors are using to win. Sign up today!

John Dudley

A longtime writer and sports bettor, John Dudley has been dubbed the “King of Props” for his proficiency with proposition wagers. Research is the key that routinely unlocks success, and his selections are always backed by sound reasoning. John can be followed on Twitter @JohnDudley85

More must-reads: