I have been waiting for the Dallas Cowboys to get real help opposite CeeDee Lamb, and in 2025, they finally did.
George Pickens changed the look of the passing game. I know some fans will look at this Cowboys stat and brush it off as just another statistic, but I don’t see it that way.
I see it as proof Dallas finally had something that was missing.
Top 10 NFL WR Duos By Average Passer Rating When Targeted
What stands out to me is not just Dallas being fifth. It’s how tight that group is after Cincinnati.
The Cowboys were two-tenths of a point from falling behind the Colts, but they also finished ahead of several receiver rooms people would probably praise faster than Dallas’. That tells me Lamb-Pickens pairing was not just good on paper. It matched the names.
George Pickens Gave Dallas A Real WR2
Pickens became the piece Dallas didn’t know they were missing.
For too long, the Cowboys asked CeeDee Lamb to carry the receiver room by himself. Defenses could roll coverage his way, force Dallas to look somewhere else, and bet that the second option would not hurt them enough.
George Pickens changed that.
His 114.9 passer rating when targeted was the best number between the Cowboys’ top two receivers. He didn’t have to be the No.1 option every week. He just had to win when the ball came his way.
That’s all the team needed from their second receiver.
Pickens gave Dak Prescott a target who could win outside, stretch the field, and finish through contact. I know he gave the defense something else to think about before the snap.
Dallas just didn’t have that after Amari Cooper was traded.
CeeDee Lamb Still Pulls The Coverage
Lamb’s 91.7 passer rating when targeted was lower than Pickens’ number, but I am not turning that into some forced WR1 debate.
CeeDee is still the guy, and until George Pickens shows up to camp. Lamb will hold down the fort.
George Pickens benefited from having CeeDee Lamb across from him and vice versa. That’s how it’s supposed to work.
When Lamb got injured, Pickens was able to step up and be the guy. The next man up mentality was seen at receiver last season.
I don’t think Lamb has to drag the offense by himself, and Pickens doesn’t need to be force-fed touches to justify his role. Both players stress the defense in different ways, and Dallas finally had that balance fans wanted to see in 2025.
Dallas Needs To Build Around This
I don’t think the Cowboys need to overthink this part of the offense.
Lamb and Pickens don’t give the Cowboys a WR1 and WR2. I see them as WR1A and WR1B. Prescott now has two receivers who beat a defense.
That should be the starting point of the season.
It shouldn’t be something that gets lost because the offense wants to spread the ball around just to say everybody touched it.
Make the defenses defend the whole field. Keep them from loading up on one side and force them to pick their poison.
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