The San Francisco 49ers head into Week 17 with a ton at play. They can end up anywhere from a wild card to the NFC South champions to the No. 1 overall seed. Ricky Pearsall has not played much this season due to a knee injury that he aggravated two weeks ago. Will fantasy football managers have the sophomore wide receiver available this week?
Ricky Pearsall Injury Update
Pearsall suffered his initial PCL injury during the 49ers’ Week 4 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The wide receiver landed hard on the ground while attempting to make a reception, and what was initially expected to be a minor injury turned into a six-game absence. Pearsall finally returned to action in Week 11 against Arizona after missing six consecutive games.​
In Week 15 against Tennessee, Pearsall caught six of seven targets for 96 yards, marking the first time he truly looked like himself since the injury. The breakout performance came with a physical cost, as Pearsall dealt with both ankle and knee injuries.​
The ankle injury occurred early in the game on the 49ers’ first offensive play from scrimmage. Pearsall hurt his ankle when it got twisted during an eight-yard reception to open the contest. The ankle issue was very minor, and Pearsall returned to play through it for the entire game.​
The knee issue arose late in the contest and represents a more significant concern. Head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that Pearsall after aggravating the previous PCL injury late in the game.​
It is amazing how brazenly coaches can lie with no repercussions. The moment Pearsall revealed he aggravated his PCL injury, it was very clear there was absolutely no chance he would play the next game. Yet, Shanahan made it seem like the very same injury that cost him nearly two months earlier in the season was not going to even cost him a game the second time around.​
Of course Pearsall did not practice all week and did not play on Monday night. Shanahan said Pearsall still had a chance to play despite not practicing, claiming he was feeling significantly better and the extra day off would be beneficial.​ He never had a chance.
Much like the first time it happened and much like Drake London’s PCL injury that was initially reported as not even a lock to cost him time, none of the reporting was accurate. This is a 4-6 week injury. Fantasy managers should not expect to see Pearsall again until the NFL postseason.​
Pearsall’s Fantasy Outlook
The 49ers find themselves in a drastically different situation than when Pearsall initially suffered his PCL injury. San Francisco still needs to win games for playoff positioning. In the ultra-competitive NFC West, their range of outcomes is wide.
Unfortunately, Pearsall’s body will not allow him to play through this aggravation. When Pearsall first hurt his knee in Week 4, Shanahan said there was a chance the receiver would play the following week, but Pearsall wound up missing six games. The same pattern is repeating itself.​
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With Pearsall out, it results in more looks funneled in the directions of George Kittle, Jauan Jennings, and Christian McCaffrey. There is no in-house replacement for fantasy managers. We must look elsewhere for a fill-in.
