Who Should I Start? Josh Downs or Ricky Pearsall

Saturday, November 1, 9:53 AM

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (hip) practiced fully on Thursday and Friday after missing his team's Wednesday practice and is listed without an injury designation heading into a Week 9 road matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Downs will look to build upon an encouraging Week 8 outing that saw him haul in all three of his targets for 39 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Tennessee Titans. He has a great matchup on tap as the Steelers are allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season. Downs has been overtaken in the passing-game pecking order by Michael Pittman Jr., but he remains a solid WR3/flex option in fantasy in this prime matchup on Sunday.

Friday, October 31, 5:23 PM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) missed practice all week and has been ruled out for another game this Sunday against the New York Giants in Week 9, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. Pearsall hasn't practiced or played since spraining the PCL in his knee in Week 4. He'll be missing his fifth straight game this weekend, and it's unclear if he'll have a shot to play in a big divisional clash next weekend against the Los Angeles Rams. The 25-year-old former first-rounder had a huge opportunity earlier this year to step up in San Fran's passing attack with tight end George Kittle on Injured Reserve and fellow wideout Jauan Jennings also injured, but he could not take advantage of it. Pearsall has quickly developed the injury-prone label, as he's only played in four games through nine weeks in 2025 after playing in just 11 games due to injury in his rookie season in 2024.