Ricky Pearsall Scores Another Touchdown In Week 18
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.
San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (illness, chest) has been removed from the injury report and will try to duplicate his Week 17 breakout in a Week 18 matchup in Arizona against the Cardinals. The 2024 first-round selection was projected in most places as a WR6 or WR7 last week against Detroit but exploded with eight receptions of 10 targets for 141 yards and a touchdown. He added two carries for six yards and even threw one incomplete pass. Pearsall's potential ascendency could face a roadblock on Sunday, as he'll be catching his passes from backup Joshua Dobbs after Brock Purdy (right elbow) was ruled out. On the other hand, Deebo Samuel Sr. (rib, wrist) is also out, perhaps clearing the way for more targets. Consensus rankings have Pearsall just a few slots behind wideout Jauan Jennings given the three-straight zeroes that Pearsall produced following the last time he surged with 15.3 half-PPR points in Week 10. Arizona is the NFL's 10th-toughest matchup for fantasy wideouts. Consider Pearsall a boom/bust WR3 for the final game of his rookie campaign.
San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (chest, illness) was limited in practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week. If Pearsall cannot upgrade to full participation at Friday's practice, he could carry a questionable designation into the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. The first-rounder is coming off the best game of his rookie season in the Monday night loss to the Detroit Lions, when he set season-highs across the board in catches (eight), targets (10) and receiving yards (141) while catching his second touchdown of the year. There's a chance fellow wideout Deebo Samuel Sr. (ribs, wrist) doesn't play this weekend, which would thrust Pearsall into the WR2 role behind Jauan Jennings. However, with backup QB Joshua Dobbs getting the start, Pearsall would still be an unreliable, boom/bust WR4/5 in fantasy.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (illness, chest) was limited in Wednesday's practice, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. The 49ers will conclude the season at Arizona in Week 18 in a meeting of two teams that have been eliminated from playoff contention. The rookie receiver is coming off his career-best game on Monday against Detroit, going for eight catches, 141 yards, and a touchdown, but the 49ers may be without quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) and a host of other players, too. Against a solid Cards pass defense, Pearsall is a major risk in DFS or fantasy formats that play Week 18.
Ricky Pearsall Breaks His Fantasy Ceiling In Week 17
San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall popped off with the best game of his young career during a 40-34 loss to the Detroit Lions at Levi's Stadium on Monday night. For the first time this season, Pearsall had quarterback Brock Purdy's eye throughout. The 24-year-old out of Florida finished with a co-team-high 10 targets and eight receptions for a team-leading 141 yards and a touchdown. He also took two carries for six yards. Pearsall flashed his first-round skills, including winning a strong-hand battle at the goal line against standout safety Brian Branch and a one-handed, toe-tapping tip and grab on the sideline. Anyone still playing meaningful fantasy football in Week 18 may be tempted to consider Pearsall as a FLEX option after his breakout game, but first should track the injury news of quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) going into the team's game on Sunday at the Arizona Cardinals.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall hasn't made much of an impact on offense during the second half of the season. Last week, Pearsall hauled in all four of his targets for 37 yards in the loss to the Miami Dolphins. The rookie wideout has been held to 37 receiving yards or less in every game since Week 10. The good news is that Pearsall has seen four targets in each of his last two games. Sadly, Pearsall hasn't been able to do much with his catches. He'll be a risky flex choice for the Week 17 matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Ricky Pearsall Catches Four Passes In Loss To Dolphins
San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was marginally involved during a 29-17 loss to the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday. The first-round pick caught all four of his targets for 37 yards. After missing the early part of the year due to a gunshot wound, Pearsall's production escalated each game from Week 7 to Week 10, culminating in a 17.3 half-PPR performance at Tampa Bay. Any fantasy optimism quickly fizzled out though, as Pearsall then recorded three straight goose eggs. Sunday's modest performance was the most productive Pearsall has been since the aforementioned Bucs game. The 49ers will almost certainly need to make full use of their passing attack in Week 17 when the Detroit Lions bring an elite offense to Levi's Stadium, but Pearsall will be nothing more than a deep-league prayer, barring an injury ahead of him.
Ricky Pearsall Held To One Catch In Primetime Loss
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.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall remained lower in the pecking order of targets during the team's 38-13 win over the Chicago Bears. The rookie finished the game with two targets, one reception, and five yards. Jauan Jennings and George Kittle commanded over half of the targets in this game, leaving Pearsall behind Isaac Guerendo and Deebo Samuel Sr. The 49ers now have a short week and will take on the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night for Week 15.
San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall should not be started in any formats in Week 14 when he faces the Chicago Bears. The former first-round selection has seen three targets over the past three games but has been unable to come down with any of them. However, during Weeks 7 through 10, the Florida product averaged a modest 11.4 PPR points per game. While Pearsall is deployed as the clear No.3 wide receiver, he has been unable to find much consistency in the passing attack behind Deebo Samuel Sr., Jauan Jennings, and tight end George Kittle. However, with Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) sidelined, the 49ers may rely on their passing attack more often down the stretch. However, given his lack of production over the past month, fantasy managers should not consider starting him for the foreseeable future.
Ricky Pearsall
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49ers
