Who Should I Start? Michael Wilson or Ricky Pearsall

Saturday, December 21, 9:26 AM

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson remains a risky WR3/FLEX play in deeper leagues as he prepares to take on the Carolina Panthers. The 24-year-old has been a beacon of availability this season, playing at least 66 percent of offensive snaps in all 14 games. He has a modest stat line of 41 catches, 482 yards, and four touchdowns so far, ranking 52nd among wide receivers in terms of fantasy points (PPR). He had come on strong with 25.2 fantasy points between Weeks 13 and 14, but he dropped down to just 2.9 points with a pair of catches for nine yards last weekend. This week, Wilson faces the Panthers, who have been mediocre in terms of defending wide receivers. Carolina has allowed the 14th-fewest fantasy points to slot receivers this year, as well as the 12th-most fantasy points to receivers who play out wide. For context, Wilson has taken 212 snaps from the slot (30.6 percent), which is the 34th-most among NFL receivers. Managers can certainly justify starting him in deeper fantasy formats, but we'd advise looking elsewhere for production in leagues with 12 teams or fewer.

Friday, December 13, 12:30 AM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall caught just one of his four targets during Thursday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams, finishing Week 15 with 16 yards. The rookie pass-catcher has struggled to emerge as a relevant option in redraft leagues given his No. 3 role behind Deebo Samuel Sr. and Jauan Jennings. The 24-year-old has just 13 catches for 153 yards this year, and most of that production came in a singular game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in Week 10. As long as Pearsall remains third on the depth chart, he should be benched or left on waivers in fantasy football. That trend continues next week against the Miami Dolphins, who have been quite stingy against opposing wide receivers in 2024.