The San Francisco 49ers are set to face off against the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday as 3.5-point favorites. The team will see the return of their starting quarterback, Brock Purdy, who has recovered from a toe injury. However, the status of two starting wide receivers, Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings, remains uncertain. Pearsall has been dealing with a knee issue and, after missing practice on Wednesday, participated in a limited capacity on Thursday and Friday. Meanwhile, the 49ers’ starting tight end is on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
The potential absence of Pearsall could significantly impact the 49ers’ offensive strategy. Although he is expected to play, the decision remains uncertain. Should Pearsall be unable to participate, the team would likely rely more heavily on other receivers, including Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Sky Moore, and Kendrick Bourne, to absorb the potential increase in snaps and targets. However, no single player on the roster is poised to emerge as a definitive fantasy asset. Christian McCaffrey is expected to remain central to the team’s offensive play and will likely be the primary target, as usual.
From a fantasy football perspective, Pearsall’s performance has been notable, with two 100-yard receiving games and a strong standing in total receiving yards. The Jaguars have allowed significant fantasy points to wide receivers previously, although their defensive analytics show them to be robust against the pass, ranking seventh in DVOA and sixth in EPA per pass attempt allowed. If Pearsall plays, he remains a viable starting option in most fantasy leagues, albeit without the touchdown count necessary to break into the Top 10 fantasy receivers at this time.
Overall, the game against the Jaguars presents an intriguing matchup for the 49ers, who will need to adapt to potential changes in their lineup and continue to strategize effectively despite key players being in uncertain positions.