Jalen McMillan vs Ricky Pearsall: Who Should You Start?
Deciding between Jalen McMillan and Ricky Pearsall is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver put up 6.0 PPG in 2025 over 4 games; Ricky Pearsall of the San Francisco 49ers averaged 7.8 in 9. A 1.8-point margin that could shift on any given week.
The per-game difference of 1.8 points favors Ricky Pearsall, 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. Ricky Pearsall saw 53 targets in 2025, while Jalen McMillan drew 15. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Ricky Pearsall, even in weeks where Jalen McMillan posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.
One scheduling note: Jalen McMillan is off Week 11 and Ricky Pearsall Week 9. 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.
