Who Should I Start? Ricky Pearsall or Tetairoa McMillan

Thursday, September 25, 4:43 PM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) was able to return to practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday's practice with a knee injury, per David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. Pearsall appears to be trending towards playing in Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 25-year-old has his best game of the season in Week 3, posting eight catches for 117 yards against the Arizona Cardinals. Pearsall has recorded 16 catches for 281 yards on 24 targets through his first three games of the season. Assuming he can play on Sunday, Pearsall profiles as a low-end fantasy WR2 in Week 4 against Jacksonville.

Thursday, September 25, 2:13 PM

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (calf) returned to practice on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday, a positive sign for his availability in Sunday's matchup with the New England Patriots. With Xavier Legette (hamstring) still sidelined, McMillan is positioned to handle a large share of the passing volume in Week 4. The 2024 second-round pick has been productive early, posting 216 yards through three games while emerging as Bryce Young's most reliable option. Although he's yet to find the end zone, that could change this week against a Patriots defense that has already surrendered five passing touchdowns. Fantasy managers should start McMillan as a WR2, especially in deeper leagues, as he brings both a solid target floor and intriguing upside in a game where Carolina could lean heavily on him.