Who Should I Start? Keon Coleman or Ricky Pearsall

Friday, January 23, 3:58 PM

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman had a rough year in 2025, recording 38 receptions for 404 yards and four touchdowns on 59 targets across 13 games played. Despite his team desperately needing pass-catching help for much of the season, the 22-year-old was a healthy scratch for multiple games and had his maturity called into question by team officials. The Bills moved on from long-time head coach Sean McDermott after losing to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round. McDermott's firing could mean a fresh start for Coleman with a new coaching staff, which could work to his benefit. However, Buffalo retained general manager Brandon Beane, and Bills owner Terry Pegula recently insinuated that Coleman's selection in the 2024 NFL Draft was more McDermott's call than Beane's. Depending on how Buffalo addresses the wide receiver position during the offseason, Coleman's status with the Bills could be in question heading into 2026.

Tuesday, January 27, 12:58 PM

Heading into 2025, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was a popular pick to have a breakout season. However, the former first-round pick battled through a knee injury and recorded just 36 receptions for 528 yards and zero touchdowns on 53 targets across nine games played. Availability has been a consistent issue for Pearsall so far in his NFL career, as he's played in just 20 games across his first two seasons. Even when on the field, the 25-year-old has not yet emerged as a featured option in the San Francisco passing game. He's logged just 99 targets in his career, an average of fewer than five per contest. However, Pearsall will likely have an opportunity for a larger role with the 49ers in 2026. Star San Francisco tight end George Kittle (Achilles) suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the team's NFC Wild Card Round win over the Philadelphia Eagles and will likely miss time in 2026 as a result. Additionally, 49ers wideout Jauan Jennings is set to hit unrestricted free agency in mid-March after leading the team's wide receiver corps in targets in 2025. Fully buying in on Pearsall remains difficult until he proves the ability to stay healthy for an extended stretch. Still, he appears to have a clear pathway to a lead role in the San Francisco passing game in 2026.