Who Should I Start? DeMario Douglas or Ricky Pearsall

Thursday, February 19, 5:04 PM

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas had a disappointing third year in the NFL, even though his team advanced all the way to the Super Bowl. The 25-year-old pass-catcher had career lows in catches (31), targets (46), and receiving yards (447) while scoring just three touchdowns for the second straight season in 17 regular-season games. Quarterback Drake Maye was in the running for MVP honors in his second season, but Douglas just couldn't stand out in a crowded receiving corps that also included Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, and rookie Kyle Williams. His 447 receiving yards were fifth on the team, and he added seven carries for 21 yards on the ground. Douglas will be in a contract year in 2026, but with all of the above-mentioned receivers returning to New England, it's hard to envision Douglas becoming a strong weekly fantasy football option.

Sunday, February 15, 4:31 AM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is trending up ahead of the NFL offseason. Fellow Niners receiver Jauan Jennings is headed for free agency, and given that his relationship with the team is rocky, it seems likely that he'll sign somewhere else. If Jennings does leave, and Brandon Aiyuk also departs as expected, that will open the door for Pearsall to step into the No. 1 receiver role. He showed the ability to handle a top role at times in 2025, but injuries prevented fantasy managers from being able to fully evaluate him. He ultimately finished his second pro season with 36 catches, 528 yards, and zero touchdowns across nine games. Because of his injury history, it might be tough for the 49ers to trust Pearsall as their No. 1 receiver. We wouldn't be surprised to see them go out and grab a top pass-catcher via trade or free agency, leaving Pearsall in the No. 2 role once again. He can absolutely still offer upside in fantasy football, though. The 49ers have a very capable offense, so Pearsall will be able to turn any workload into fantasy points. He ranks as a fringe top-36 fantasy receiver for 2026 and would jump into the top 24 if the 49ers don't bring in any competition for him.