Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Deebo Samuel Sr. vs Ricky PearsallWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Deebo Samuel Sr. is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.5 PPG to Ricky Pearsall's 7.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Deebo Samuel Sr. is the better fantasy play this season.

Deebo Samuel Sr. is the better play on a neutral week. 9.5 PPG with 802 yards gives a reliable baseline. Ricky Pearsall at 7.8 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Deebo Samuel Sr. higher, but do not fade Ricky Pearsall entirely.

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

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WRWashington Commanders#36PPG LEADER

Deebo Samuel Sr.

PPG

9.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

727

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

WRSan Francisco 49ers#52

Ricky Pearsall

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

528

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Deebo Samuel Sr.

Ricky Pearsall

Head to Head

9.5 PPG7.8 PPG

16 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Deebo Samuel Sr.: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #36 at the position). Ricky Pearsall: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #52 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Deebo Samuel Sr. is producing at 43% of elite pace and Ricky Pearsall at 35%. That ranking gap means Deebo Samuel Sr. carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Deebo Samuel Sr. vs Ricky Pearsall: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Deebo Samuel Sr. and Ricky Pearsall is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Washington Commanders wide receiver put up 9.5 PPG in 2025 over 16 games; Ricky Pearsall of the San Francisco 49ers averaged 7.8 in 9. A 1.7-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 1.7 points favors Deebo Samuel Sr., though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one wide receiver to the other.

Target volume is the story here. Deebo Samuel Sr. saw 99 targets in 2025, while Ricky Pearsall drew 53. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Deebo Samuel Sr., even in weeks where Ricky Pearsall posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

One scheduling note: Deebo Samuel Sr. is off Week 7 and Ricky Pearsall Week 8. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in wide receiver for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

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: Deebo Samuel Sr. (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?

•Deebo Samuel Sr. outscored Ricky Pearsall by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Deebo Samuel Sr. played 16 games in 2025 compared to Ricky Pearsall's 9. That durability gap means Deebo Samuel Sr. contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Deebo Samuel Sr. saw 99 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 Deebo Samuel Sr. (25 vs 30), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Deebo Samuel Sr. vs Ricky Pearsall: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Deebo Samuel Sr.	Ricky Pearsall
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.5	7.8
Games Played	16	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	152	70
Receptions	72	36
Rec/Game	4.5	4.0
Receiving Yards	727	528
Rec Yds/Game	45.4	58.7
Receiving TDs	5	0
Targets	99	53
Target Share/Game	6.2	5.9
Age	30	25
Experience	6 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 8

Summary

9.5 PPG for Deebo Samuel Sr. versus 7.8 for Ricky Pearsall in 2025. The baseline favors Deebo Samuel Sr., though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Deebo Samuel Sr. or Ricky Pearsall in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Deebo Samuel Sr. has the edge at 9.5 PPG compared to Ricky Pearsall's 7.8 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 Deebo Samuel Sr. and Ricky Pearsall average in 2025?▾

Deebo Samuel Sr. averaged 9.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Ricky Pearsall averaged 7.8 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

When are Deebo Samuel Sr. and Ricky Pearsall's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Deebo Samuel Sr. (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Ricky Pearsall (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Deebo Samuel Sr. or Ricky Pearsall a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Deebo Samuel Sr. outscored Ricky Pearsall by 1.7 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.