The San Francisco 49ers' blockbuster addition of wide receiver Mike Evans in free agency last March could be seen as a detriment to third-year pro Ricky Pearsall.
After all, the future Hall of Famer's arrival all but guaranteed Pearsall wouldn't assume the WR1 role on head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense in 2026.
From the Niners' perspective, it made too much sense to add Evans. Deebo Samuel was already gone, and Brandon Aiyuk was embroiled in a standoff with his employer, meaning Pearsall was the de facto No. 1 prior to Evans showing up. Yet the 31st overall pick from the 2024 NFL Draft had appeared in just 20 games over his first two years in the league, and several injuries wholly derailed his promising sophomore campaign.
That said, Evans showing up might actually be a great blessing to Pearsall, and fantasy football owners need to take notice.
Because, should Pearsall stay healthy, he might be the kind of player who can ensure owners get to a championship.
Ricky Pearsall is the ideal mid-round fantasy football WR target
Absolutely, fantasy owners targeting Pearsall have to take into account his injury history, which included knee issues throughout the course of 2025. But, when healthy, the former Florida standout has shown plenty of flashes for talent. He averaged 58.7 yards per game last season, and that was when he was dealing with the knee injuries, so one can hope a fully healthy version of Pearsall would be able to expand on that number.
Plus, with Evans now commanding top attention from opposing defenses' best coverages, Pearsall is set up to be the prime benefactor.
And owners can wait to snag him up, too.
According to Fantasy Football Calculator, Pearsall is currently the No. 37-ranked wide receiver in 12-team PPR leagues, even trailing Samuel (No. 34), who remains a free agent. In contrast, Evans is 15th on the same board.
This means Pearsall should have no trouble falling into the back end of fantasy drafts, and a mid-round pick could pay off handsomely if he stays healthy and finally starts to deliver on San Francisco's first-round investment from two years ago.
Of course, the injury worries won't go away, so having a viable backup plan can't be ignored.
But, Pearsall could easily be one of those mid- to late-round finds who help secure a fantasy championship, provided he stays healthy.
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