Who Should I Start? Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Ricky Pearsall

Friday, January 9, 4:00 PM

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was arguably the best pass-catcher in football in 2025, recording 119 receptions for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns on 163 targets. While Smith-Njigba's overall numbers are dominant, his production dropped off slightly down the stretch of the season. After topping 100 receiving yards in eight out of his first 11 games of the year, he hit the century mark just once over his final six contests. Smith-Njigba was also held out of the end zone in three of his last four games. Still, Smith-Njigba earned at least eight targets and recorded six receptions in five straight outings to close the year, and he logged at least 14.4 PPR fantasy points in all but two regular-season appearances. With the Seahawks earning a bye through the first round of the NFC playoffs, Smith-Njigba's first postseason opponent is not yet known. However, regardless of opponent, Smith-Njigba profiles as a high-end wide receiver option for fantasy managers in playoff leagues.

Wednesday, January 14, 3:24 PM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) is "optimistic" that he will return in the Divisional Round of the playoffs this Saturday night against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks and plans to be at full speed in practice on Wednesday, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. Pearsall practiced in a limited fashion on Tuesday for the first time since Dec. 31 due to an aggravation of a PCL sprain in his right knee. The 25-year-old former first-rounder is also battling an ankle injury. Injuries continued to be an issue for Pearsall in 2025 -- he played in just nine games -- but he appears to be trending in the right direction to be active against Seattle. That would be a big boost to a Niners offense that just lost star tight end George Kittle to a torn Achilles tendon. It would also be bad news for the fantasy upside of both receivers Jauan Jennings and Demarcus Robinson.