Who Should I Start? A.J. Brown or Ricky Pearsall

Monday, February 9, 10:10 AM

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown's future with the team is in doubt this offseason, but the Eagles have not had any trade talks surrounding the three-time Pro Bowler, multiple sources told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Garafolo also said there have only been brief talks between the team and Brown since the 2025 season ended with a loss in the playoffs to the Los Angeles Rams. Brown seems to be more "at peace" and calm about things, but it doesn't mean that he won't be dealt this offseason after he voiced his frustrations with Philly's offense in 2025. If the Eagles trade the 28-year-old, they'd take a $43.5 million salary cap hit in 2026, so they'd be looking for significant compensation in any deal. For what it's worth, Brown said on a recent podcast that he's "excited" for next season. In 15 starts during the regular season, Brown caught 78 of his 121 targets for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns. He has become a more volatile fantasy wideout, but a move to a new team won't necessarily boost his fantasy value for the 2026 campaign.

Tuesday, January 27, 12:58 PM

Heading into 2025, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was a popular pick to have a breakout season. However, the former first-round pick battled through a knee injury and recorded just 36 receptions for 528 yards and zero touchdowns on 53 targets across nine games played. Availability has been a consistent issue for Pearsall so far in his NFL career, as he's played in just 20 games across his first two seasons. Even when on the field, the 25-year-old has not yet emerged as a featured option in the San Francisco passing game. He's logged just 99 targets in his career, an average of fewer than five per contest. However, Pearsall will likely have an opportunity for a larger role with the 49ers in 2026. Star San Francisco tight end George Kittle (Achilles) suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the team's NFC Wild Card Round win over the Philadelphia Eagles and will likely miss time in 2026 as a result. Additionally, 49ers wideout Jauan Jennings is set to hit unrestricted free agency in mid-March after leading the team's wide receiver corps in targets in 2025. Fully buying in on Pearsall remains difficult until he proves the ability to stay healthy for an extended stretch. Still, he appears to have a clear pathway to a lead role in the San Francisco passing game in 2026.