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Head to Head

Updated from live stats

Quentin Johnston vs Ricky PearsallWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Quentin Johnston is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.2 PPG to Ricky Pearsall's 7.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Quentin Johnston is the better fantasy play this season.

Quentin Johnston is the better play on a neutral week. 11.2 PPG with 742 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 Quentin Johnston higher, but do not fade Ricky Pearsall entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRLos Angeles Chargers#18PPG LEADER
Quentin Johnston
PPG
11.2
Games
13
Rec
51
Rec Yds
735
Rec TDs
8
Targets
84
Bye
Week 7
WRSan Francisco 49ers#52
Ricky Pearsall
PPG
7.8
Games
9
Rec
36
Rec Yds
528
Targets
53
Bye
Week 8

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Quentin Johnston
Ricky Pearsall

Head to Head

11.2 PPG7.8 PPG
13 GP9 GP
Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Quentin Johnston: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #18 at the position). Ricky Pearsall: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #52 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Quentin Johnston is producing at 51% of elite pace and Ricky Pearsall at 35%. That ranking gap means Quentin Johnston carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Quentin Johnston vs Ricky Pearsall: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Quentin Johnston and Ricky Pearsall for your lineup, you are not alone. Quentin Johnston finished the 2025 season at 11.2 PPG for the Los Angeles Chargers (13 games), and Ricky Pearsall averaged 7.8 for the San Francisco 49ers (9 games).

That 3.4-point weekly advantage for Quentin Johnston 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. Quentin Johnston saw 84 targets in 2025, while Ricky Pearsall drew 53. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Quentin Johnston, even in weeks where Ricky Pearsall posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Quentin Johnston has his bye in Week 7, and Ricky Pearsall rests in Week 8. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at wide receiver for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Quentin Johnston is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Ricky Pearsall is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Quentin Johnston (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Ricky Pearsall (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

  • Quentin Johnston outscored Ricky Pearsall by a projected 58 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Quentin Johnston played 13 games in 2025 compared to Ricky Pearsall's 9. That durability gap means Quentin Johnston contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Quentin Johnston saw 84 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Quentin Johnston vs Ricky Pearsall: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatQuentin JohnstonRicky Pearsall
PPG (Half-PPR)11.27.8
Games Played139
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)14670
Receptions5136
Rec/Game3.94.0
Receiving Yards735528
Rec Yds/Game56.558.7
Receiving TDs80
Targets8453
Target Share/Game6.55.9
Age2425
Experience2 yrs1 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 7Week 8

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Quentin Johnston at 11.2 PPG, 3.4 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 Quentin Johnston or Ricky Pearsall in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Quentin Johnston has the edge at 11.2 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 Quentin Johnston and Ricky Pearsall average in 2025?

Quentin Johnston averaged 11.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Ricky Pearsall averaged 7.8 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 3.4 points per game.

When are Quentin Johnston and Ricky Pearsall's bye weeks in 2026?

Quentin Johnston (LAC) 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 Quentin Johnston or Ricky Pearsall a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Quentin Johnston outscored Ricky Pearsall by 3.4 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.