The San Francisco 49ers‘ wide receiver corps faces a significant reshuffling as the season approaches,with key players absent and new talent poised to step into prominent roles.
Deebo Samuel Sr. has departed the team,now joining Jayden Daniels in Washington. Concurrently, Brandon Aiyuk is sidelined indefinitely due to a torn ACL and MCL.This situation elevates Jauan Jennings and first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall to the forefront of the wide receiver depth chart.
Jennings, who has recorded four games with over 20 fantasy points across the last four seasons, now faces increased expectations. Pearsall, a first-round selection, demonstrated his potential in his abbreviated 2025 rookie season, achieving at least 17 fantasy points in three games. While Jennings had a notable 46-point fantasy performance last season, his career has not consistently showcased WR1 production.
Despite the continued presence of tight end George Kittle and the significant involvement of running back Christian McCaffrey in the offense, Pearsall is seen as a strong candidate to secure the WR1 position, even after Aiyuk’s eventual return from injury. Pearsall’s performance against the Detroit Lions in Week 17, where he posted eight receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown, highlights his potential. He possesses the attributes of a breakout candidate, with a clear opportunity for substantial playing time within an offense that has ranked seventh or better in points per game in two of the last three seasons. Analysts suggest Pearsall could be a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3, potentially available as a WR5 in the 12th round of ESPN fantasy football leagues.
