Who Should I Start? Curtis Samuel or Ricky Pearsall

Sunday, January 12, 6:03 PM

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel caught three passes for 68 yards and a touchdown in the team's dominant win over the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card matchup. Samuel wasn't heavily involved (three targets) but led Buffalo in receiving yards thanks to a long catch-and-run in the fourth quarter. Already ahead two touchdowns entering the final frame, Josh Allen found Samuel for a 55-yard score on the quarter's first play to cement Buffalo's victory. Samuel doesn't hold much value the way Allen shares the love in the passing game. He was one of five receivers to earn three targets, which only trailed Khalil Shakir's six.

Sunday, January 5, 10:47 PM

San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall followed last week's breakout game with another strong showing in Sunday's 47-24 Week 18 loss to the Cardinals in Arizona. The Arizona native caught six of eight targets for 69 yards, including a six-yard touchdown grab on a contested slant pattern from backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs. Pearsall, who started his 49ers career on a terrifying note -- being shot in the chest during an armed robbery attempt -- had an up-and-down year once he debuted in Week 7. Pearsall produced four fantasy-useful performances in 2024 but seven in which he was held below six half-PPR points. With momentum and the validation of his first-round pedigree this season, Pearsall could be an intriguing late-round fantasy pick in 2025 depending on the health of Brandon Aiyuk's knee, and if Pearsall can move past Jauan Jennings and/or Deebo Samuel Sr. in the 49ers' hierarchy.