Who Should I Start? Chig Okonkwo or Ricky Pearsall

Tuesday, December 30, 2:54 PM

Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo has finished as a top-five fantasy tight end in back-to-back weeks, helping to secure titles for the few brave managers who dared to stray from the consensus start/sit path. Okonkwo played a similar championship-winning role last season, gathering 22 receptions for 182 yards from Weeks 15-17. For fantasy managers still playing in Week 18, he becomes an interesting name on this week's waiver wire as the Titans prepare to face a Jaguars defense that has been a bottom-10 unit at defending the position. An important thing to note is that in Week 18 of 2024, Okonkwo saw only a 5% snap share. However, with an interim head coach and an unlikely shot at the number one overall pick, there is a greater expectation that Tennessee will play its starters on Sunday.

Monday, January 5, 3:25 PM

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) aggravated his PCL injury last week, which is why he was inactive for the Week 18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night despite practicing all week before the game, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. The 25-year-old former first-rounder is also dealing with an ankle sprain, which makes him questionable to play in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs this Sunday versus the hosting Philadelphia Eagles. When healthy, Pearsall is one of quarterback Brock Purdy's top targets, but he's played in just nine games in 2025 due to injuries after playing in 11 games in his rookie campaign. If Pearsall misses a second straight game this weekend, Jauan Jennings, Demarcus Robinson, and Kendrick Bourne would all be in line for more targets.