Who Should I Start? Cooper Kupp or Ricky Pearsall

Friday, October 3, 7:56 PM

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp has entered the bench stash phase of his career. He is not a viable option in Week 5 when the Seahawks host the Buccaneers. The Buccaneers have an untested passing defense, but Kupp has been too inconsistent to this point in the season. Kupp has only surpassed 6.6 fantasy points one time this season. Additionally, the Seahawks' passing volume is low. Quarterback Sam Darnold is averaging 25 passing attempts per game, and 8.5 of those passes are going to wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Some of that has been due to game script. The offense has been relatively efficient, and the defense has been elite, resulting in a lower passing volume. If the Buccaneers' offense challenges Seattle in Week 5, the passing volume could increase. However, Kupp is too risky a player to deploy right now. He still has talent, but as of now, he is a better wide receiver for the Seahawks than he is for fantasy.

Monday, October 6, 10:47 PM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) wasn't spotted at Monday's practice, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. Although the 49ers didn't hold an official practice on Monday, it's not a great sign that Pearsall isn't on the field after he was inactive for last Thursday night's win over the Los Angeles Rams due to a minor PCL injury that he suffered in Week 4. Both Pearsall and Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) did not play last Thursday, allowing Kendrick Bourne to go off for 10 catches and over 100 yards. Jennings was on the field on Monday, though, signaling that Jennings might be closer than Pearsall in terms of being available in Week 6 to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If the 25-year-old Pearsall doesn't return to the team's first practice on Wednesday, he'll be on track to miss a second straight game.