Who Should I Start? Diontae Johnson or Ricky Pearsall

Tuesday, May 6, 1:15 PM

Wide receiver Diontae Johnson's one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns is for the veteran's minimum of $1.17 million and doesn't include any guaranteed money, according to ESPN's Field Yates. It's essentially a zero-risk deal for the Browns, while Johnson will be hoping to re-establish his value at just 28 years old. The former third-round pick (66th overall) of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019 out of Toledo was traded to the Carolina Panthers last offseason. He caught 30 of 58 targets for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven starts before then being traded to the Baltimore Ravens. Johnson was not a good fit there and only caught one of five targets for six yards before being cut. He then latched on with the Houston Texans and caught two of four targets for 12 yards in one game. Johnson has an opportunity in Cleveland alongside Jerry Jeudy, but his volatility and the Browns' QB situation makes him unattractive in most fantasy leagues.

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.