San Francisco 49ers Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

49ers TE George Kittle is expected to miss a week with an adductor strain, HC Kyle Shanahan said Thursday. So it shouldn't impact his availability or readiness for the start of the season. But it's an inauspicious start to the summer for a guy with a lengthy injury history. Kittle is an avoid at his fifth-round ADP.

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan doesn’t expect QB Brock Purdy to play in the preseason opener. Purdy will take part in joint practices with the Raiders this week. In his place, look for San Francisco to get an extended look at Trey Lance come Sunday afternoon.

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan said he no longer thinks about Brock Purdy’s offseason elbow surgery. This comment came on the heels of Purdy’s "sharpest practice” of camp, per beat reporter Matt Maiocco. “That’s completely off my mind. He’s healed; he’s healthy,” Shanahan said. “Guys got to get into throwing shape and they got to play and get used to that, and that takes time. But I’m not thinking about his injury.” Purdy and the 49ers travel to Pittsburgh for Week 1. The second-year QB should only factor into your superflex strategy for that one.

49ers RB Elijah Mitchell is dealing with an adductor strain that’ll sideline him for about one week, per HC Kyle Shanahan. Mitchell’s extensive injury history remains a concern in Year 3. He should still fill a part-time role behind Christian McCaffrey when healthy, though. Current projections have Mitchell for about 8 touches per game.

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan likes what he's seen from QB Brock Purdy in camp so far. "I think he's done great," Shanahan said. "He has come back. He's had no arm troubles. He's been totally healthy. I think he's getting all his timing back, his rhythm. I was really impressed with him in his two practices." Purdy remains the favorite to open the season as San Francisco's starter.

The Athletic's David Lombardi writes that 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk “continues dominating” at training camp. Aiyuk brings undeniable talent, and he should be hitting his prime at 25 years old. Volume looks like an issue, though. And we’ll have to see how QB Brock Purdy performs in live action following March elbow surgery.

49ers QB Brock Purdy reportedly received all of the first-team reps in 7-on-7 drills at practice on Thursday. Purdy hasn't thrown in a public setting with the team since sustaining a UCL injury in the NFC Championship vs. the Eagles that required surgery in March. QBs Trey Lance and Sam Darnold split reps as the QB2 in practice as well. The position battle between Purdy and Lance for the starting job in San Francisco will carry significant ramifications for fantasy managers this season, and to see Purdy work as the starter upon return is notable. It's still early yet, though a smattering of offseason quotes from GM John Lynch and others indicate this is Purdy's job to lose. Keep up with us here at Draft Sharks as we learn more about this battle over the course of training camp.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel said he’s in his best shape since his rookie season (2019). Samuel looks “decidedly sleeker and lighter on his feet” early in camp, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. The 27-year-old shared more about his new physique. “I think the heat kind of played a part because Arizona is hot,” Deebo said, referring to where he trained. “We were doing a lot of running, a lot of cardio, a lot of stuff to kind of trim the fat a little bit. A lot of track working out. Then I got into a routine of flexibility, mobility, and then I got into boxing a little bit.” Following a down 2022, Samuel hits the WR rankings as a top-20 option.

The 49ers have a “plan” for keeping RB Christian McCaffrey healthy for Week 1, per HC Kyle Shanahan. McCaffrey sat out team drills on Wednesday, and it shouldn’t alarm you if this becomes a trend. CMC, now 27, has nearly 1,500 career touches. Our RB rankings show he remains a top-end RB1.

ESPN’s Nick Wagoner believes 49ers RB Tyrion Davis-Price looks “quicker and leaner.” The 22-year-old is likely headed for the RB3/4 role in San Francisco. But recall that the team selected him in Round 3 just one year ago. He posted only 99 yards (on 34 carries) as a rookie.

The 49ers don't expect Edge Nick Bosa to report with the rest of the team for the start of training camp. There's no injury to worry about, though. GM John Lynch says the two sides are trying to find the "sweet spot" on a long-term extension that's a "little more complicated," according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. Bosa has shown throughout his still-young career that he can deliver even after limited practice time. So this shouldn't alter your draft plans in your IDP league. Bosa hasn't moved in our IDP rankings.

The 49ers have cleared QB Brock Purdy (elbow) for training camp. He’s expected to be on a pitch count, throwing for two days, followed by one day of rest. HC Kyle Shanahan said they hope to have Purdy throw without restriction in about two weeks. It’s an excellent development for the 2nd-year QB, who’s avoided setbacks in his recovery. Purdy remains the favorite to start Week 1.

49ers RB Jordan Mason has flashed "noticeably better" receiving skills this offseason, per The Athletic's Matt Barrows. It was a reported area of focus for Mason, who tallied only 26 career catches (in four seasons) at Georgia Tech. The former UDFA excelled in limited rushing action as a rookie, and he could ascend to the RB2 role if Elijah Mitchell’s injury woes continue. Circle Mason as a deep sleeper on your fantasy cheat sheet.

ESPN’s Nick Wagoner writes that QB Brock Purdy’s rehab “has gone just as he and the Niners hoped.” Wagoner strongly believes Purdy will be cleared to practice at some point during training camp. San Francisco opens the regular season at Pittsburgh in roughly seven weeks, so there's time for him to reacclimate. Still, view our QB rankings, and you won't find Purdy in a draftable range.

49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk is coming off a top-25 finish among WRs in fantasy points per game and has had an impressive offseason by all accounts. But his target volume is a concern heading into 2023. Aiyuk drew a 22.0% target share last year -- 32nd among WRs. But that dipped to 20.1% in 14 games with a healthy WR Deebo Samuel. Aiyuk saw just 17.9% of 49ers targets in seven games with Samuel and RB Christian McCaffrey. Samuel, McCaffrey, and TE George Kittle are back this year. And San Francisco figures to remain a run-leaning offense regardless of who's playing QB. That has Aiyuk sitting a bit lower in the WR Rankings than his talent would dictate.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel plummeted from third among WRs in PPR points per game in 2021 to 28th last year. His volume dipped a bit with the addition of RB Christian McCaffrey. But efficiency was Samuel's bigger problem. After setting career highs in 2021 with 11.6 yards per target and 2.93 yards per route run, he registered career lows last year with 6.7 yards per target and 1.85 yards per route. Expect a bounce back there. McCaffrey's presence and Samuel's lengthy injury history remain concerns, but he's much cheaper in fantasy drafts this summer than last. See where Samuel lands in the 2023 WR Rankings.

49ers TE George Kittle finished second among TEs in PPR and non-PPR points per game last year. But there are a few reasons to be wary of drafting him in 2023. Kittle derived a huge portion of his 2022 fantasy production from his career-high 11 TDs. He scored on 18.3% of his receptions, which is more than double the league-wide average TE TD rate of 8.4% and more than triple Kittle's 6.0% TD rate over his first five seasons. He's in for regression in the TD column. On top of that, Kittle's catches per game, yards per game, yards per route, and target share last year were all his lowest marks since his 2017 rookie campaign. Turning 30 in August, Kittle is likely in decline. He faces stiff target competition this season in RB Christian McCaffrey and WRs Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. And the 49ers figure to remain a run-leaning offense. Kittle's high weekly ceiling makes him worth taking some shots on in best ball. But he looks generally overvalued at his TE4 ADP. Kittle sits significantly lower in our TE Rankings.

Christian McCaffrey led RBs in PPR points per game and ranked third in non-PPR across his nine full regular-season games with the 49ers last season. But his usage and production declined when RB Elijah Mitchell was healthy. In seven games without Mitchell (including playoffs), McCaffrey averaged 24.1 opportunities (carries + targets), 135 total yards, and 1.3 TDs. He sunk to 17.2 opportunities, 85 total yards, and 0.6 TDs in five games with Mitchell. McCaffrey’s scoring averages in those five games would have ranked seventh among RBs in PPR points per game for the season and 12th in non-PPR. It's certainly possible that McCaffrey's usage alongside Mitchell grows in 2023 after a full offseason in the offense. But the Mitchell splits are certainly worth considering as you decide whether to spend a top-5 pick on McCaffrey in fantasy drafts this summer. See our baseline, ceiling, and floor projections for McCaffrey.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel admitted that 2022 contract negotiations contributed to a down season. The 27-year-old signed an extension last July. On Tuesday, Samuel described his play last season as “awful.” He performed at a WR3 level in PPR points per game. "We talked about it. We put it behind us, and [were] just going through the tape to just look how sluggish and how bad it looked on tape," Samuel said of a conversation with HC Kyle Shanahan. "I never will put nothing like that back on tape again.” Deebo currently profiles as a top-20 fantasy WR for 2023.

SI's Albert Breer writes that 49ers QB Brock Purdy is “throwing without pain, and he’s passed every test the Niners have thrown at him.” Breer laid out the next steps for San Francisco’s likely starter. “The plan going forward is to gradually increase the velocity and distance on his throws. But at this point, I’m told he’s come through the rehab process and is now building strength back in his arm, on a track that’d have him ready to go for Week 1.” This is one of many positive updates on Purdy’s elbow this offseason, although we're still not buying him as a priority fantasy target. San Francisco kicks off their season with a Week 1 matchup at Pittsburgh.