The San Francisco 49ers’ receiving corps is in flux heading into the 2025 season, creating both uncertainty and opportunity for fantasy football managers. With Brandon Aiyuk facing an extended absence due to injury and Jauan Jennings battling a troublesome calf issue, the team’s depth chart has been turned upside down.
Brandon Aiyuk Fantasy Outlook
Is Brandon Aiyuk a savvy late grab for leagues with an IR spot? Maybe, but probably not. We should know more closer to the season, and if the prognosis on Aiyuk’s recovery is trending positive, then any player of his talent is worth the stash. However, we’re well into training camp, and it seems more and more likely he’ll miss a few weeks — a long commitment to make already.
Injuries of his nature can vary, and this seems like far more of a “year after the year after” type of bet to make. Still, at age 27, he’s in his prime, and his recovery could happen quicker than expected.
That said, his 2024 season was rough. He did not go into the season hurt, but slow from his holdout. Aiyuk held out through the preseason and returned just before the start of the regular season. The effects of his missing all that practice time were evident: six games with under 50 yards, no touchdowns, and ugly reps throughout.
It would be speculation to assume that it played a part in his Week Seven injury, but that’s now his battle as opposed to a new deal. Even when he does make his return to the field, will he be back to his former self? Considering that that’ll be close to the fantasy playoffs, I don’t really want to be the one to find out. Even in the best-case scenario, I don’t think Aiyuk is a league-winning asset. Save yourself the trouble on this one.
– Mason LeBeau, Fantasy Football Analyst
Jauan Jennings Fantasy Outlook
To start the summer, the debate between Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall was nearly even. Now, after a contract demand and calf injury that’s held him out of camp, they’re still about the same value. Jennings at WR45 is pretty wild to me, so Pearsall would be the easy pick between the two — even if Jennings is a full go to start the season.
That said, a calf injury is tricky business. We saw Christian McCaffrey deal with a similar issue last preseason, only for it to cost him half the year. The 49ers are in a tough spot between making sure Jennings is at full health and needing extra firepower while they await Brandon Aiyuk’s return. Unless we hear differently by Week One, it feels like he’s in the worst of spots between recovery and a crowded receiver room.
That doesn’t mean Jennings won’t or can’t be a good option — we never know what the season has in store, and he could quickly become the WR1 at any point — but even at a reduced price, I’d prefer to take chances on Pearsall, Matthew Golden, or Emeka Egbuka in the same range.
– Mason LeBeau, Fantasy Football Analyst
Ricky Pearsall Fantasy Outlook
We haven’t seen a full year of Ricky Pearsall yet, which has kept his price moderately low. He started the camp injured, dipping his stock even more, but as the rest of the receiving corps keeps getting hurt, the hype around Pearsall is getting hard to contain.
Ricky Pearsall’s final 2 games of the season in 2024:
• 18 targets
• 14 catches
• 210 receiving yards
• 2 touchdowns pic.twitter.com/cQP2D2QTs2— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) May 10, 2025
I won’t be surprised at all if Pearsall is one of the biggest risers in value over the first half of the month. Not only are the camp reports encouraging, but there are essentially no other receivers to throw to.
TE George Kittle will get his, but the actual receiver room after Pearsall is currently Robbie Chosen and Skyy Moore, both of whom they just added to the team. Jauan Jennings will be nursing a calf injury, and Brandon Aiyuk will miss a chunk of the season to start.
QB Brock Purdy puts a lot of faith into his receivers, so getting a WR1 for a Kyle Shanahan offense is easy money. Their schedule is also incredible. Week One at Seattle may be difficult, but they then face the Saints, Cardinals, Jaguars, Rams, Buccaneers, and Falcons. Their schedule doesn’t get much harder after a trip to Houston, either.
Pearsall has a very real chance to blow up fantasy early in the year. There are some other enticing young receivers in this range of the draft, but I’m taking Pearsall if I can.
– Mason LeBeau, Fantasy Football Analyst
