Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Ricky Pearsall vs Terry McLaurinWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Terry McLaurin is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.5 PPG to Ricky Pearsall's 7.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Terry McLaurin is the better fantasy play this season.

Terry McLaurin is the better play on a neutral week. 9.5 PPG with 582 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 Terry McLaurin higher, but do not fade Ricky Pearsall entirely.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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WRSan Francisco 49ers#52

Ricky Pearsall

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

528

Targets

Bye

Week 8

WRWashington Commanders#35PPG LEADER

Terry McLaurin

PPG

9.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

582

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Ricky Pearsall

Terry McLaurin

Head to Head

7.8 PPG9.5 PPG

9 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Ricky Pearsall: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #52 at the position). Terry McLaurin: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #35 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Ricky Pearsall is producing at 35% of elite pace and Terry McLaurin at 43%. That ranking gap means Terry McLaurin carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Ricky Pearsall vs Terry McLaurin: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Ricky Pearsall and Terry McLaurin for your lineup, you are not alone. Ricky Pearsall finished the 2025 season at 7.8 PPG for the San Francisco 49ers (9 games), and Terry McLaurin averaged 9.5 for the Washington Commanders (10 games).

That 1.7-point weekly advantage for Terry McLaurin 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.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Ricky Pearsall turned 53 targets into 528 yards and undefined touchdowns, while Terry McLaurin converted 60 looks into 582 yards and 3 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

One scheduling note: Ricky Pearsall is off Week 8 and Terry McLaurin Week 7. 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.

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: Ricky Pearsall (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Terry McLaurin (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Terry McLaurin outscored Ricky Pearsall by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Terry McLaurin played 10 games in 2025 compared to Ricky Pearsall's 9. That durability gap means Terry McLaurin contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Terry McLaurin saw 60 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Ricky Pearsall is 5 years younger than Terry McLaurin (25 vs 30), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Ricky Pearsall vs Terry McLaurin: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Ricky Pearsall	Terry McLaurin
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.8	9.5
Games Played	9	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	70	95
Receptions	36	38
Rec/Game	4.0	3.8
Receiving Yards	528	582
Rec Yds/Game	58.7	58.2
Receiving TDs	0	3
Targets	53	60
Target Share/Game	5.9	6.0
Age	25	30
Experience	1 yrs	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Terry McLaurin at 9.5 PPG, 1.7 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 Ricky Pearsall or Terry McLaurin in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Terry McLaurin has the edge at 9.5 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 Ricky Pearsall and Terry McLaurin average in 2025?▾

Ricky Pearsall averaged 7.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 9 games in 2025. Terry McLaurin averaged 9.5 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

When are Ricky Pearsall and Terry McLaurin's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Ricky Pearsall (SF) has a bye in Week 8, and Terry McLaurin (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Ricky Pearsall or Terry McLaurin a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Terry McLaurin outscored Ricky Pearsall by 1.7 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.