Ricky Pearsall most likely to begin season as 49ers' WR1

Aug 14, 2025

This could change at any moment but the answer, for now, is second-year wideout Ricky Pearsall. Pearsall has moved past the hamstring injury that kept him out in the spring and has begun stringing good practices together. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said by the end of last season Pearsall was the team's best receiver when it came to beating man coverage. He's continued to sharpen his route running and with many of the other wideouts dealing with injuries, including Jauan Jennings (who would be the answer here if healthy), there are plenty of opportunities for Pearsall to build on his strong finish to last season early in 2025.

Related Players: Brandon Aiyuk, Jacob Cowing, Demarcus Robinson

Fantasy Impact:

Things seemed to be heading in this direction, which is probably why the ADPs of Pearsall and Jennings have shifted much closer together over the summer months. Jennings had a massive 175-yard performance in the first month of last season, but Pearsall also closed the year out well and has his first full offseason under his belt after being shot (with a gun) last August. Both options look like they should be in the fantasy WR3 range for now.

today

Browns QB Shedeur Sanders leaves practice with oblique injury

Ian Rapoport

today · 12:09 PM EDT

Browns QB Shedeur Sanders injured his oblique in practice today, early on, and will be evaluated. That may take him out of the next preseason game — the latest in a string of Cleveland nagging QB injuries.

Related Players: Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel

Fantasy Impact:

Pickett is also sidelined at the moment, so the next preseason game might be between Gabriel and recently signed Tyler Huntley. We still expect Flacco to begin the regular season as the starter.

Bills sign RB James Cook to four-year extension

Adam Schefter

today · 9:52 AM EDT

Bills now have officially signed RB James Cook to a four-year contract extension through 2029.

Related Players: Ray Davis, Ty Johnson

Fantasy Impact:

It's a four-year, $48M extension after Cook scored 18 combined touchdowns last season. We can still expect Davis and Johnson to rotate in (and Josh Allen could always take some of those rushing touchdowns for himself), but Cook remains a very solid RB2 option in 2025.

yesterday

Report: 49ers, WR Jauan Jennings not close on contract

CBS Sports

yesterday · 8:52 PM EDT

Jauan Jennings, 28, is entering the final year of a two-year, $15.4 million extension that he signed with the franchise in May 2024. Despite Jennings wanting a new contract, it doesn't appear that an extension is imminent. Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard reported Tuesday that the "two sides are not close on a new agreement," citing the timing of the contract request.

Fantasy Impact:

Jennings hasn't practiced since July 27 due to a calf injury which came less than two weeks after a report surfaced that Jennings wants a new contract and is open to a trade if he isn't compensated adequately, the story said. Some are questioning the calf injury, according to the story. Watkins is going to miss a month and Aiyuk should start the season on the PUP list, so the Niners are looking thin at the WR position as we get closer to the season.