Who Should I Start? Terry McLaurin or Ricky Pearsall

Wednesday, May 28, 10:08 PM

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin was absent for voluntary organized team activities this week, according to The Washington Post's Nicki Jhabvala. The All-Pro wideout had been a full participant previously but is entering the final year of his three-year, $68.2 million contract that he signed in 2022. The 29-year-old is coming off a huge season in 2024 in which he caught 82 passes for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns in 17 regular-season games, so he's most likely angling for a new contract. General manager Adam Peters said in March that the organization would likely to work something out with McLaurin before the start of the 2025 regular season, but it remains to be seen if it will actually happen. TD regression is expected for McLaurin, and Deebo Samuel Sr. will take some targets away, but he will be a fine WR2 target going into fantasy drafts this fall.

Thursday, May 29, 6:04 PM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (hamstring) is dealing with a hamstring injury and likely won't return to practice until training camp at the end of July, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. It doesn't sound like it's a serious injury for Pearsall, the but Niners won't take any chances with last year's first-rounder after he also dealt with hammy issues going into his rookie season in 2024. The 24-year-old pass-catcher then suffered a gunshot wound to his chest and didn't make his NFL debut until Week 7. He's expected to have a key role in the offense in his sophomore season with Deebo Samuel Sr. no longer in town and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) unlikely to be ready for the start of the season, but Pearsall is going to lose valuable reps this offseason to gain chemistry with quarterback Brock Purdy. Pearsall could still be ready for Week 1, but this news doesn't do anything to dispel the notion that Pearsall is injury-prone.