The likes of Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb have emerged as the class of the wide receiver position in fantasy football. These players combine dynamic play-making ability with consistent target volume, making them some of the safest investments to make on draft day.
However, undisputed alpha receivers are hard to come by. Many teams across the NFL contain ambiguous wide receiver depth charts, where many players will be vying for pertinent roles throughout the offseason. As fantasy managers, a key component of pre-season research will be to identify these obscure situations and pinpoint who is most likely to emerge as the team’s target leader.
After a somewhat underwhelming 2023 rookie campaign, Jaxon Smith-Njigba was left off many draft boards heading into 2024. The continued presence of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in Seattle casts doubt on his path to sustained volume. Yet, Smith-Njigba quickly emerged as the team’s target leader, taking advantage of the inefficiencies of his veteran teammates. Those who correctly anticipated Smith-Njigba’s sophomore leap enjoyed WR8 production from their late-round dart throw.
- Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2025 Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football ADP
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Position Battles to Watch
San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Pearsall, Brandon Aiyuk & Jauan Jennings
It was a calamitous 2024 season for the San Francisco 49ers. The team stumbled to a 6-11 record as they battled a slew of injuries on both sides of the football. From a defensive standpoint, the team lost several key assets in free agency. The production from the likes of Talanoa Hufanga, Dre Greenlaw and Charvarius Ward will be very hard to replace. In turn, the 49ers’ offense will be tasked with keeping up with opposing teams. Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan are more than capable of leading an effective unit with a healthy corps of skill position players. The target distribution between the wide receiver trio of Ricky Pearsall, Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings remains to be seen, however.
It was certainly a year to forget for Aiyuk, who was the subject of much off-field drama and was eventually ruled out with a season-ending knee injury. Still, Aiyuk is only two years removed from an outstanding 2023 campaign where he tallied 1,342 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. Given Aiyuk’s recent four-year, $120 million extension in San Francisco, Kyle Shanahan will be incentivized to pepper the savvy route-runner with targets once he returns to full health.
Jennings performed admirably in Aiyuk’s absence in 2024. Among wideouts with a minimum of 50 targets, the veteran ranked 15th in receiving grade, 12th in contested catch percentage and 14th in yards per route run. per PFF. Fantasy managers will also need to keep an eye on Jennings’ ongoing contract dispute.
49ers WR Jauan Jennings, who is scheduled to make $7.5 million this season in the final year of his deal, wants a new contract or a trade, per sources.
49ers extended Jennings’ deal last year, but that does not change how Jennings feels about this year. pic.twitter.com/5pWBOBjSPl
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 14, 2025
Heading into the 2025 season, Pearsall will look to build upon a strong finish to his rookie year. Over the final three regular-season games, he accumulated 18 receptions for 247 yards, offering a glimpse of the talent that made him a first-round selection. We’ve often seen highly-touted prospects come into their own during their sophomore season. If Pearsall can take a sophomore leap similar to the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jaylen Waddle in years past, he’ll prove to be very valuable for the 49ers and fantasy managers alike.
Given past successes and financial investment, Aiyuk figures to be the team’s primary target once he makes a full recovery. His current WR48 fantasy football ranking is a clear underestimation. Nevertheless, Pearsall and Jennings are both worth late-round consideration. Both have the potential to earn significant volume and become fantasy football mainstays if Aiyuk’s health concerns persist longer than expected. All told, managers should want a piece of the 49ers’ passing attack in 2025.
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