Who Should I Start? Jayden Reed or Ricky Pearsall

Monday, May 12, 9:11 PM

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst met last week with wide receiver Jayden Reed's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, to clarify Reed's status in Green Bay after the team took receivers Matthew Golden (first round) and Savion Williams (third round) in this year's NFL draft, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Packers told Reed it will not affect his status as their top receiver, according to a source. The 25-year-old caught 55 of 75 targets for 857 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (10 starts) while carrying the ball 20 times for 163 yards and another score on the ground in his second NFL season. Reed dislocated his shoulder in the playoff loss to the Eagles and disappointed his fantasy managers in the second half of the season, averaging 29.6 receiving yards and 3.6 targets after the Week 10 bye. He's explosive with the ball in his hands, but he's a boom/bust WR3/flex play, at best.

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.