Kenny Pickett 2026 fantasy outlook and rest-of-season projection
- Age
- 28
- Height / weight
- 6'3", 218 lb
- Experience
- 5th season
- Drafted
- 2022 R1, #20
2026 Season
- PPR PPG
- 1.0
- Pos rank
- QB40
- Rostered
- —
Week 4 vs. Lions, Sun Oct 4, 8:20 PM ET 1st vs. QBs, favorable
Kenny Pickett Rest-of-Season Outlook
QB4 for deep leagues only
Preseason Projection vs. Reality
He finished QB60 last season at 1.6 points per game.
Our Take After Week 4
Through 2 games he's QB40 at 1.0 PPR points per game, against 1.6 over 6 games last season (QB60). The role is producing the same fantasy output two years running.
Last season he ranked 41st of 41 in passing volume (7.5 attempts per game), 41st of 41 in efficiency (-0.55 EPA per play) and 36th of 41 in rushing (3.7 rush yards per game). Passing volume is the soft spot. Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker are his top two targets.
He's QB2 on the depth chart, so his value depends on the players ahead of him.
The next favorable matchups are the Lions in Week 4 (1st against QBs) and the Eagles in Week 6 (7th against QBs).
Read our preseason outlook (June 2026)
Published June 16, 2026. Kept for reference; the take above replaces it.
Pickett's 2025 cameo in Las Vegas confirmed what his profile keeps suggesting: a steady hand who doesn't move the needle. Across six appearances he completed 62.2% of his throws for just 188 yards, one touchdown against two picks, and a brutal -0.552 EPA per play with a 29.3% success rate. That finished him 61st among quarterbacks at 7.7 fantasy points, a far cry from the QB29 ranking and 39.8% success rate he posted as Pittsburgh's starter in 2023.
Now on his third team in three years, Pickett lands in Carolina as the clear backup behind Bryce Young on a roster trending upward. The one-year deal is depth insurance, nothing more. There's no draftable path here outside Superflex or two-quarterback formats, and even then only as a contingency stash should Young miss time. Leave him on the waiver wire and monitor the situation.
What Drives His Outlook
His 2025 rank among the 41 quarterbacks who played at least six games. Each bar is one quarterback, best on the left; his is highlighted.
Passing volume
Efficiency
Rushing
- Success rate
- 29.3%
- CPOE
- −6.5
- Sacks taken
- 8
- Pressure rate
- 25.0%
- Bad-throw rate
- 13.6%
- Deep-attempt rate
- 7.5%
What Could Change His Value
Upside
- A soft stretchThe Lions in Week 4 and the Eagles in Week 6 are top-10 matchups for QBs.Wk 4 DET, 1stWk 6 PHI, 7thWk 7 TB, 23rdWk 8 GB, 22nd
Risk
- RoleHe's QB2 on the depth chart.
- Light passing volume7.5 attempts per game, 41st of 41 QBs in 2025.
- A tough matchupThe Buccaneers in Week 7 (23rd) is among the stingiest defenses against QBs.
All Kenny Pickett stats & analysis
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Kenny Pickett Fantasy Outlook FAQ
What is Kenny Pickett's fantasy outlook for the rest of the 2026 season?
Kenny Pickett projects as a qB4 for deep leagues only for the rest of the 2026 season: a bench stash in superflex and 2QB leagues and waiver-wire material in 1QB leagues. His passing volume (7.5 attempts per game, 41st of 41 QBs in 2025) holds him back. See his live rank in Redraft Command.
What is Kenny Pickett's rest-of-season fantasy ranking?
Kenny Pickett is the QB40 in PPR points per game through Week 4. That puts him in QB4 territory, waiver-wire material in 12-team 1QB leagues.
What is Kenny Pickett's projected role going forward?
Kenny Pickett is QB2 on the depth chart, so a bigger role needs an injury or a change ahead of him.
What is Kenny Pickett's fantasy football upside?
Kenny Pickett's upside: his ceiling this season is 2.4 PPR points (Week 1, QB33) and the Lions in Week 4 and the Eagles in Week 6 are top-10 matchups for QBs.
What could hurt Kenny Pickett's fantasy value?
Kenny Pickett's risks: his passing volume (7.5 attempts per game, 41st of 41 QBs in 2025) limits his scoring and the Buccaneers in Week 7 is a tough matchup. See his injury status and history.
How difficult is Kenny Pickett's remaining fantasy schedule?
Favorable: of his next seven games, 2 come against a top-10 matchup for QBs and 1 against one of the stingiest defenses, by PPR points allowed to the position.