Ricky Pearsall fantasy football outlook for 2024: Is 49ers WR a safe pick this year?

Ricky Pearsall was the San Francisco 49ers' first-round pick at 31st overall in the 2024 NFL draft, adding another weapon to their already-loaded offense. They are one of the highest-scoring teams in the NFL, giving Pearsall some upside, but his competition for targets may be a big hurdle in fantasy football.

Rookies often carry more risk than most other players in their position because they come with more unknowns, including what type of role they will play in their offense. Pearsall is a good example of this, but he has a path to solid production. Here's where his fantasy football outlook stands ahead of the 2024 season.

Breaking down Ricky Pearsall's fantasy football outlook for 2024

Ricky Pearsall (image credit: Getty)

Ricky Pearsall spent the first three seasons of his college football career with the Arizona State Sun Devils. He then transferred to the Florida Gators for his final two seasons and significantly improved his overall production. He set career-highs in total yards in each of his two years with the Gators, combining to record 98 receptions for 1,626 yards and 12 total touchdowns during that time.

Landing with the San Francisco 49ers gives Pearsall a higher ceiling than many other rookies in the 2024 NFL draft class, but also a relatively low floor. Their offense is loaded with established weapons, including two productive wide receivers in Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.

A path to significant playing time for the rookie could be dependent upon Aiyuk potentially being traded. He is rumored to be seeking a trade after being unhappy with his current contract situation. If he is moved before the 2024 season, it may open the door for Pearsall to enter the starting lineup, which would significantly improve his fantasy value this year.

If not, Pearsall is not a safe pick and is a bench stash for injuries or in case he finds himself getting more targets than expected.

Where should you draft Ricky Pearsall this year?

With playing time being a major hurdle that Ricky Pearsall currently needs to overcome, he is a high-risk option in traditional season-long formats. Some of that risk goes away if Aiyuk is traded, so he's still worth a shot in the late rounds of the draft. In Dynasty fantasy football leagues, he is a much more desirable option, as being a first-round pick by the 49ers suggests that he is a part of their long-term plan.

Pearsall has an average draft position of No. 177, which highlights his risk and shows that if you are looking to draft him, you can safely wait until the late rounds. Managers considering Pearsall in their fantasy drafts should reference Sportskeeda's Who Should I Draft tool. This will help them to compare his fantasy projections against other available options when they are on the clock during their drafts to determine if he is the best pick at the time.