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Head to Head

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Chris Godwin Jr. vs Ricky PearsallWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Ricky Pearsall is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.8 PPG to Chris Godwin Jr.'s 7.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Ricky Pearsall is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Ricky Pearsall and Chris Godwin Jr. are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.4-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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WRTampa Bay Buccaneers#54
Chris Godwin Jr.
PPG
7.4
Games
9
Rec
33
Rec Yds
360
Rec TDs
2
Targets
51
Bye
Week 10
WRSan Francisco 49ers#52PPG LEADER
Ricky Pearsall
PPG
7.8
Games
9
Rec
36
Rec Yds
528
Targets
53
Bye
Week 8

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Chris Godwin Jr.
Ricky Pearsall

Head to Head

7.4 PPG7.8 PPG
9 GP9 GP
Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Chris Godwin Jr.: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #54 at the position). Ricky Pearsall: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #52 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Chris Godwin Jr. is producing at 34% of elite pace and Ricky Pearsall at 35%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Chris Godwin Jr. vs Ricky Pearsall: The Full Breakdown

Chris Godwin Jr. (7.4 PPG) and Ricky Pearsall (7.8 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two wide receivers are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Chris Godwin Jr. played 9 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Ricky Pearsall suited up 9 times for the San Francisco 49ers.

A 0.4-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Chris Godwin Jr. turned 51 targets into 360 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Ricky Pearsall converted 53 looks into 528 yards and undefined scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Chris Godwin Jr. sits Week 10 while Ricky Pearsall is off Week 8. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Chris Godwin Jr. (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Ricky Pearsall (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

  • Ricky Pearsall outscored Chris Godwin Jr. by a projected 7 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Ricky Pearsall saw 53 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
  • Ricky Pearsall is 5 years younger than Chris Godwin Jr. (25 vs 30), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Chris Godwin Jr. vs Ricky Pearsall: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatChris Godwin Jr.Ricky Pearsall
PPG (Half-PPR)7.47.8
Games Played99
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)6770
Receptions3336
Rec/Game3.74.0
Receiving Yards360528
Rec Yds/Game40.058.7
Receiving TDs20
Targets5153
Target Share/Game5.75.9
Age3025
Experience8 yrs1 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 10Week 8

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Ricky Pearsall at 7.8 PPG, 0.4 points per game above Chris Godwin Jr.'s 7.4. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Chris Godwin Jr. or Ricky Pearsall in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Ricky Pearsall has the edge at 7.8 PPG compared to Chris Godwin Jr.'s 7.4 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Chris Godwin Jr. and Ricky Pearsall average in 2025?

Chris Godwin Jr. averaged 7.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 9 games in 2025. Ricky Pearsall averaged 7.8 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 0.4 points per game.

When are Chris Godwin Jr. and Ricky Pearsall's bye weeks in 2026?

Chris Godwin Jr. (TB) has a bye in Week 10, and Ricky Pearsall (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Chris Godwin Jr. or Ricky Pearsall a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Ricky Pearsall outscored Chris Godwin Jr. by 0.4 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.