Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Marquise Brown vs Ricky PearsallWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Ricky Pearsall is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.8 PPG to Marquise Brown's 7.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Ricky Pearsall is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Ricky Pearsall and Marquise Brown are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.7-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.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Marquise Brown and Ricky Pearsall in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

WRKansas City Chiefs#56

Marquise Brown

PPG

7.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

587

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

WRSan Francisco 49ers#52PPG LEADER

Ricky Pearsall

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

528

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Marquise Brown

Ricky Pearsall

Head to Head

7.1 PPG7.8 PPG

16 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Marquise Brown: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #56 at the position). Ricky Pearsall: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #52 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Marquise Brown is producing at 32% 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.

Marquise Brown vs Ricky Pearsall: The Full Breakdown

Marquise Brown (7.1 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. Marquise Brown played 16 games for the Kansas City Chiefs; Ricky Pearsall suited up 9 times for the San Francisco 49ers.

A 0.7-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. Marquise Brown turned 74 targets into 587 yards and 5 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: Marquise Brown sits Week 5 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: Marquise Brown (age 28) 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?

•Ricky Pearsall outscored Marquise Brown by a projected 12 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Marquise Brown played 16 games in 2025 compared to Ricky Pearsall's 9. That durability gap means Marquise Brown contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Marquise Brown saw 74 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Marquise Brown vs Ricky Pearsall: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Marquise Brown	Ricky Pearsall
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.1	7.8
Games Played	16	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	114	70
Receptions	49	36
Rec/Game	3.1	4.0
Receiving Yards	587	528
Rec Yds/Game	36.7	58.7
Receiving TDs	5	0
Targets	74	53
Target Share/Game	4.6	5.9
Age	28	25
Experience	6 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 8

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Ricky Pearsall at 7.8 PPG, 0.7 points per game above Marquise Brown's 7.1. 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Marquise Brown vs Ricky Pearsall

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Marquise Brown vs Ricky Pearsall

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Marquise Brown or Ricky Pearsall in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Ricky Pearsall has the edge at 7.8 PPG compared to Marquise Brown's 7.1 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 Marquise Brown and Ricky Pearsall average in 2025?▾

Marquise Brown averaged 7.1 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 0.7 points per game.

When are Marquise Brown and Ricky Pearsall's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Marquise Brown (KC) has a bye in Week 5, and Ricky Pearsall (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Marquise Brown or Ricky Pearsall a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Ricky Pearsall outscored Marquise Brown by 0.7 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.