Is It Time To Drop Ricky Pearsall?

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

Fantasy managers who stashed Persall on IR for seven weeks have been bitterly disappointed at his complete lack of production. 

The playing time has been more or less in line with his snaps in Weeks 1-4. But the targets have all but evaporated. 

Against the Browns, Pearsall ran 30 routes, only 1 fewer than he ran in Week 12. He was also in on 92% of San Francisco's snaps against the Browns. That's excellent usage.

But Brock Purdy is not looking Pearsall's way like he did last season and in Weeks 1 and 4.

In his last three games, Pearsall is averaging 3.3 targets, 1.6 catches, and 7.6 yards per game. 

His target share is down to 11% in that stretch, and he's well outside the top 100 fantasy wideouts.

The question is, how much longer can fantasy managers afford to keep Pearsall on their rosters?

San Francisco is on a bye in Week 14, which assures no points for Persall. This is especially hard to accept for fantasy squads in must-win spots in the final regular-season week. 

The Good news is that the 49ers have the league's third-easiest playoff schedule (Weeks 15-17) for WRs:

• Week 15 vs. Tennessee

• Week 16 at Indianapolis

• Week 17 vs. Chicago

All three of Persall's opponents in the playoffs currently rank inside the bottom-11 in terms of allowing fantasy points to WRs.

That may be the silver lining, but it's hard to be too enthusiastic about Pearsall after another dud in Week 13.

While the playoff slate looks good, there hasn't been much on the field to indicate that Pearsall will suddenly be able to take advantage of it.