Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Diontae Johnson vs Ricky PearsallWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Diontae Johnson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.3 PPG to Ricky Pearsall's 7.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Diontae Johnson is the better fantasy play this season.

Diontae Johnson is the better play on a neutral week. 9.3 PPG with 712 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 Diontae Johnson 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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WRBaltimore Ravens#99PPG LEADER

Diontae Johnson

PPG

9.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

712

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

WRSan Francisco 49ers#52

Ricky Pearsall

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

528

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Diontae Johnson

Ricky Pearsall

Head to Head

9.3 PPG7.8 PPG

15 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Diontae Johnson: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Ricky Pearsall: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #52 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Diontae Johnson is producing at 42% of elite pace and Ricky Pearsall at 35%. That ranking gap means Ricky Pearsall carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Diontae Johnson vs Ricky Pearsall: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Diontae Johnson and Ricky Pearsall for your lineup, you are not alone. Diontae Johnson finished the 2025 season at 9.3 PPG for the Baltimore Ravens (15 games), and Ricky Pearsall averaged 7.8 for the San Francisco 49ers (9 games).

That 1.5-point weekly advantage for Diontae Johnson is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Target volume is the story here. Diontae Johnson saw 95 targets in 2025, while Ricky Pearsall drew 53. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Diontae Johnson, even in weeks where Ricky Pearsall posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Diontae Johnson sits Week 14 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: Diontae Johnson (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Ricky Pearsall (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Diontae Johnson outscored Ricky Pearsall by a projected 26 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Diontae Johnson played 15 games in 2025 compared to Ricky Pearsall's 9. That durability gap means Diontae Johnson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Diontae Johnson saw 95 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Diontae Johnson vs Ricky Pearsall: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Diontae Johnson	Ricky Pearsall
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.3	7.8
Games Played	15	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	140	70
Receptions	60	36
Rec/Game	4.0	4.0
Receiving Yards	712	528
Rec Yds/Game	47.5	58.7
Receiving TDs	3	0
Targets	95	53
Target Share/Game	6.3	5.9
Age	-	25
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 8

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Diontae Johnson at 9.3 PPG, 1.5 points per game above Ricky Pearsall's 7.8. 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 Diontae Johnson or Ricky Pearsall in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Diontae Johnson has the edge at 9.3 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 Diontae Johnson and Ricky Pearsall average in 2025?▾

Diontae Johnson averaged 9.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Ricky Pearsall averaged 7.8 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 1.5 points per game.

When are Diontae Johnson and Ricky Pearsall's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Diontae Johnson (BAL) has a bye in Week 14, and Ricky Pearsall (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Diontae Johnson or Ricky Pearsall a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Diontae Johnson outscored Ricky Pearsall by 1.5 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.