Who Should I Start? Kendrick Bourne or Bo Melton

Friday, January 9, 9:29 AM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne recorded 37 receptions for 551 yards (14.89 YPC) and zero touchdowns on 53 targets in 16 games in 2025. The majority of Bourne's production came in early October, when he stepped in as the team's main pass-catcher, with George Kittle, Jauan Jennings, and Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) all ruled out for a brief time. Bourne's role faded as the team continued to get healthy; however, should Pearsall miss Sunday's contest against the Philadelphia Eagles, Bourne could find himself playing more often and would likely be elevated to the team's No. 2 wide receiver alongside Jennings. Additionally, according to Novig, the Niners are underdogs (+4.5) and should be in a game flow that favors a pass-happy approach, which would result in more target opportunities for Bourne should he get more playing time. Demarcus Robinson would likely be operating more in three-wide receiver sets. Pending Pearsall's availability, Bourne would be a bit of a dart throw in fantasy playoff leagues, but would be worth a roster as a long-shot option.

Wednesday, January 14, 12:15 PM

Green Bay Packers wide receiver/cornerback Bo Melton (ankle) said that he expects to need just one month to recover from the ankle injury that he suffered in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Barring a setback, Melton should be good to take part in the team's offseason workouts in the spring. The 26-year-old is unsure if he'll work more as a receiver or defensive back going into the 2026 season. Melton was mostly a backup wideout for the Packers this year, catching only four passes for 107 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets, transitioning more to a defensive role. He'll be a restricted free agent this offseason, which means he'll most likely return to Green Bay. We aren't expecting Melton to have any real fantasy football value in the fall.