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How much will San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall contribute during the 2026 NFL season? For the former first-round draft pick, staying healthy will be the key as he enters his third year in the league.
Pearsall has missed 14 games through his first two NFL seasons. A PCL injury limited him to just nine appearances in 2025, when he finished with 36 receptions for 528 yards and no touchdowns. Those numbers brought his career totals to 67 catches for 928 yards and three touchdowns.
Despite his limited availability, NFL Media fantasy football expert Matt Okada believes Pearsall could be one of the better value picks at the wide receiver position.
Okada recently highlighted seven wide receivers fantasy managers should consider targeting in drafts, projecting Pearsall to be selected around rounds 10 or 11 while noting his potential to outperform that draft position.
And Okada also isn't concerned about Pearsall's injury history.
"When Pearsall has been on the field for the 49ers, he's logged a 67.7 percent catch rate and 13.9 yards per reception, making for a solid 9.4 yards per target," Okada wrote. "Unfortunately, Pearsall has only seen 99 targets over two seasons, but I'm expecting the ball to go his way more in 2026."
Pearsall is expected to line up opposite veteran wide receiver Mike Evans, who joined the 49ers this offseason after a standout career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He will be part of a talented group of offensive weapons that also includes George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, and fellow newcomer Christian Kirk.
Okada expects those veterans to command a significant portion of quarterback Brock Purdy's targets, but their age could open more opportunities for Pearsall in the 49ers' offense.
The third-year receiver has a chance to establish himself as a long-term weapon in head coach Kyle Shanahan's system.
"Pearsall has a realistic chance to top his career target number in 2026 alone and can produce WR3 or Flex numbers on limited opportunities thanks to his own and Brock Purdy's efficiency (67.9 career completion percentage)," Okada explained.
"Pearsall probably doesn't have WR1 upside, but he still returns value in the double-digit rounds. The third-year receiver is the perfect bench asset late in a draft, with the potential to become a weekly fantasy starter."
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