Who Should I Start? DeVonta Smith or Ricky Pearsall

Friday, January 17, 10:07 PM

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith heads into Sunday's Divisional Round matchup against the Los Angeles Rams as a pivotal part of the Eagles' passing attack. Smith led the team in receiving during last week's Wild Card victory, catching all four of his targets for 55 yards. This came on the heels of an impressive close to the regular season, where he averaged 79.3 receiving yards per game and scored three touchdowns over his last three contests. With Jalen Hurts now fully recovered and the Eagles facing a Rams defense that has struggled against top-tier wideouts, Smith could be poised for another strong outing.

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.