Who Should I Start? Marquise Brown or Ricky Pearsall

Tuesday, March 25, 2:20 PM

The Kansas City Chiefs made re-signing wide receiver Marquise Brown a priority this offseason, according to ESPN's Adam Teicher. "Hollywood" was limited to just two regular-season games in 2024 after signing a one-year deal with the team due to a preseason shoulder injury that landed him on long-term Injured Reserve. In two regular-season games and three playoff games, Brown caught 14 passes for 141 yards on 28 targets. Despite his limited action, the team saw enough to continue to believe in him heading into 2025. "Not everyone told me how much he can actually do on the football field and you could see it," quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. "He can run those over-the-middle routes. He can run really good routes and he can run deep. It's not like fast is the only thing that he can do." Brown could be a major factor in Kansas City's passing game to begin the season as Rashee Rice works his way back from a major knee injury and Travis Kelce continues to potentially decline.

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.