Who Should I Start? Khalil Shakir or Ricky Pearsall

Monday, January 27, 2:05 AM

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir caught six of his seven targets for 46 yards during Sunday's AFC Championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The talented slot receiver led the team in targets and receptions during the defeat. Although Buffalo wasn't able to punch its ticket to Super Bowl LIX, Shakir played well. He has delivered solid results through two games against the Chiefs this year, dropping 14 catches and 116 yards on a Kansas City defense that is susceptible to big showings from slot receivers. In the coming months, there will be plenty of chatter about the Bills looking to add a true No. 1 receiver after numerous failed efforts to knock the Chiefs off their pedestal in the AFC. However, if Buffalo doesn't make a major splash at wide receiver, Shakir has shown that he's capable of handling a large dose of targets while ranking as a low-end WR2 in fantasy football. He remains an appealing option for managers ahead of 2025 fantasy drafts, barring a major shakeup within the Bills' depth chart.

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.