Who Should I Start? Chris Godwin Jr. or Ricky Pearsall

Saturday, January 3, 12:21 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. has battled injury and inefficiency for much of the 2025 season. However, the 29-year-old had a breakout performance in Week 17, recording seven receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown on eight targets against the Miami Dolphins. Godwin Jr. also led all Buccaneers wide receivers in snap share, playing 79% of his team's offensive snaps. In Week 18, Tampa Bay will face the Carolina Panthers. Carolina has been a solid pass defense so far this season, ranking 11th in the NFL in total passing yards allowed (3,454) and ninth in passing touchdowns allowed (19). Still, Godwin Jr. should have his chances to produce. Over his last four games played, Godwin Jr. is averaging just under seven targets per contest. Given the likely target opportunity and his encouraging performance last week, Godwin Jr. profiles as a low-end fantasy WR2 in Week 18.

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.