Fantasy Football Video: Can Rome Odunze bounce back in 2026 in crowded Bears' receiving room?
Can Rome Odunze reclaim his spot as the Bears' top receiver in 2026?

Ricky Pearsall of the San Francisco 49ers showed promise in his rookie season but struggled with injuries. Heading into Year 3, expectations are high for him to produce a significant season, especially with new talent added to the roster.

In his rookie season, Ricky Pearsall recorded 36 receptions for 528 yards but did not score any touchdowns.
Pearsall missed the entire month of October due to injury and struggled to make an impact in the playoffs, limiting his contributions during crucial games.
Expectations for Pearsall in 2026 include achieving his first 1,000-yard season, similar to Brandon Aiyuk's 2022 performance, provided he stays healthy.
The 49ers added more wide receivers to provide reliable options on the perimeter, as Pearsall's injury history raised concerns about his ability to perform consistently as a WR1.
Can Rome Odunze reclaim his spot as the Bears' top receiver in 2026?

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**Age:**25 (birthday is in September **Experience:**2 accrued seasons **Height:**6’1 **Weight:**189 pounds
Pearsall is entering the third season of his rookie contract. His 2026 base salary of $1.93 million is guaranteed. His protated signing bonus is $1.48 million. Pearsall’s cap number is $3.41 million.
Pearsall led the NFL with 264 receiving yards on downfield throws through the first three weeks of the season. He caught one downfield pass on five targets once he returned during the first three games. Then, once Ricky started getting going, he caught all seven of his downfield targets for 141 yards during the final few weeks of the season. We believe the 49ers added talent around Pearsall for multiple reasons. The fact that he led the team in targets and receptions on 20+ air-yard throws despite playing just 43% of the snaps means the team needed *someone* else reliable on the perimeter. Still, there are enough examples through two seasons to suggest Pearsall will either get banged up or not perform like a WR1, which is the expectation when you take a receiver in the first round. Last year, we asked Pearsall to be a better version of what Deebo Samuel was in his final year. Pearsall had 36 receptions for 528 yards, but failed to reach the end zone. He also only had two carries, which was something else Deebo brought to the table. Deebo scored four touchdowns in 2024 and had 670 receiving yards and 136 rushing yards. Sports Info Solutions rated Pearsall better by roughly five points, thanks to those early-season big plays.
Let’s raise the bar for Ricky in 2026. How about a Brandon Aiyuk 2022 season? BA had 78 receptions for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns that season. If Ricky can play all 17 games, it’s not a stretch to think he can produce his first 1,000-yard season as a pro. We believe the additions of Mike Evans, De’Zhaun Stribling, and Christian Kirk will help Pearsall around him by taking away coverage and opening up things for the third-year pro all over the field. Is that too much to ask? It’s a big year for Pearsall. Year 3 is when you’re talking about extending your first-rounder. Instead, the 49ers may be asking themselves whether they want to pick up his fifth-year option. A healthy, productive season will go a long way toward the 49ers’ success in 2026. If not, we might be having a difficult conversation about Pearsall this time next year.