Who Should I Start? Jauan Jennings or Brian Thomas Jr.

Friday, February 13, 7:58 AM

Across 15 games in 2025, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings recorded 55 receptions for 643 yards and nine touchdowns on 90 targets. With 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk (knee) sidelined for the entirety of 2025 by a knee injury, Jennings emerged as the team's WR1. The 28-year-old is now set to hit unrestricted free agency, but 49ers' general manager John Lynch recently expressed public interest in signing Jennings to a new contract. If Jennings does indeed re-sign with San Francisco, he could see an even greater role in the team's passing game in 2026. San Francisco lost star tight end George Kittle (Achilles) to a torn Achilles in the NFC Wild Card Round in early January, which means Kittle could miss a sizable chunk of the 2026 season. Additionally, 49ers WR2 Ricky Pearsall has had major difficulty staying on the field to this point in his NFL career, playing in just 20 games across his first two professional seasons. Jennings may not carry elite fantasy upside, but he's solidified himself as a reliable producer over the last two seasons in San Francisco.

Saturday, January 31, 5:22 AM

After topping 1,200 receiving yards and recording 10 touchdown catches as a rookie in 2024, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was expected to fully emerge as an elite player at his position in 2025. However, the 23-year-old battled through both injury and underperformance this past season, recording just 48 receptions for 707 yards and two touchdowns on 91 targets across 14 games played. As the season progressed, Thomas Jr. appeared to fall behind Jaguars wideouts Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington on the team's pass-catching pecking order. Including the postseason, Thomas Jr. recorded fewer than five receptions in each of his final nine games of the year. Heading into 2026, the Jaguars' wide receiver depth chart will get even more crowded by wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter's (knee) return from injury. Thomas Jr. could re-emerge as the lead wideout in Jacksonville in 2026. However, his stock in both redraft and dynasty fantasy formats has taken a hit after his disappointing 2025 campaign.