Ricky Pearsall

Ricky Pearsall quietly flashed major upside in an injury-shortened 2025 season, posting four games with at least 85 receiving yards while leading the 49ers in receiving yards per game. The opportunity is massive entering 2026 with Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk gone, George Kittle recovering from a torn Achilles, and San Francisco carrying significant vacated targets and air yards. Pearsall has a realistic path to becoming a featured option in Kyle Shanahan's offense if he can finally stay healthy. Surrounded by aging veterans and inexperienced competition, the former first-round pick profiles as one of fantasy football's top breakout candidates.

Ricky Pearsall is reaching make-or-break territory. Last year was another injury-marred campaign, as he was limited to nine games played with a PCL sprain that plagued him all year, essentially. Pearsall still flashed when he was on the field, with four top-24 weekly finishes in those nine games (WR20, WR11, WR21, WR22). Last year, Pearsall only drew a 17.4% target share, but he averaged 58.7 receiving yards with 2.02 yards per route run and 0.103 first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). Last year, among 109 qualifying receivers, Pearsall ranked 23rd in yards per route run and 22nd in first downs per route run. On a per-route basis, Pearsall was excellent. Yes, Mike Evans was added to this offense along with Christian Kirk and De'Zhaun Stribling. I don't see Kirk or Stribling impacting Pearsall's role and volume in this offense if he can stay healthy. If Pearsall can finally put together a full, healthy 17-game season, this could be his breakout year. I'll take that shot late in drafts all the time.