49ers rookie WR De’Zhaun Stribling was a surprise pick at 33rd overall. Early in camp, though, he’s already earning the trust of QB Brock Purdy. “The way he runs routes, the detail of it … obviously, we’re coaching him up on some stuff and whatnot, but more than anything, he’s come in and understands the route depth, the details, the alignments in our offense. And all those things are really tough for rookies. It’s not easy. It’s a whole other language.”
What They're Saying
Purdy continued the compliments (via The Athletic):
“He’s done a good job with the footwork and getting off the line and stuff ... he’s proving to all of us that he’s reliable and we can trust him. But it is Day 2 of camp, and we’ve got to continue to find out (more). But I’ve got a lot of trust in him now.”
2026 Fantasy Football Impact: Is There a Shot at Redraft Value?
Realistically ... no.
Christian Kirk’s calf injury has created a small opening, but Stribling still faces a crowded target hierarchy featuring George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Mike Evans, and Ricky Pearsall. Each veteran carries some combination of injury and age-related risk, but for now, Stribling’s strong start to camp should supply a source of optimism for dynasty managers.
Stribling remains out of the late-round mix in redraft.
