Niners Nation

Tight end Jack Stoll (6'4", 247) played for the Eagles from 2021 through 2024, started four games last season with the Saints catching six passes for 46 yards, and has 32 career starts. The source assesses that 'at his size and with his experience, Stoll probably has the best shot to make the roster' among the five tryout candidates the 49ers worked out after injuries to Jake Tonges and Alfred Collins.

Tight end Tanner Conner went undrafted in the 2022 draft and spent his rookie contract with the Dolphins; last season he caught nine passes for 91 yards with Miami. The source notes he was among five players the 49ers worked out after injuries to Jake Tonges and Alfred Collins.

Tight end Lawrence Cager, 29, has been in the NFL since 2020 but hasn't played a regular-season game since 2023; he spent his tenure with the Jets and Giants, with his most productive season in 2022 when he caught 13 passes for 118 yards. The source notes he was among five players the 49ers worked out after injuries to Jake Tonges and Alfred Collins.

Tight end Jake Tonges suffered an injury that prompted the 49ers to hold tryouts for replacement options at the position.

Expected to be placed on Injured Reserve by the 49ers, removing him from the active roster and affecting the team's defensive depth chart.

Promoted to the San Francisco 49ers active roster; expected to replace Jake Tonges at tight end, signaling a depth chart upgrade and increased opportunity for playing time in the 49ers offense.

49ers offensive line allowed pressures on only 25% of Purdy's dropbacks in Week 1 win over Rams; Rams generated quick pressure on just 5.7% of dropbacks, indicating dominant pass protection performance that mixed quick throws with strong line play.

Aaron Jones benefited from Jauan Jennings' blocking on a TD run in Week 1. Jennings showed the blocking skills coaches had been discussing, sealing Packers DE Barryn Sorrell on the play.

Moore played 16 snaps with the Packers in Week 1. He received a reverse in the first quarter that was negated by penalty. Moore serves as Green Bay's returner and had 1 target. On 4th & 2 with 1:31 remaining, Jordan Love missed Moore, though the source notes Moore appeared to have a step on the defender and could have scored.

Robinson played 18 snaps in his Falcons debut with 9 carries for 31 yards and a 33.3% success rate (target is 40s), posting a -1.39 rushing EPA. He also serves as Atlanta's kickoff returner (40-yard return in Week 1). Three of his runs gained no yards or were losses; his longest run (14 yards) came after being hit in the backfield and bouncing off the tackle.

Bourne was heavily involved in the Cardinals' passing attack in Week 1, catching all 8 targets for 75 yards with 3 impact plays and 1 contested catch. He had a higher target share than Mike Evans and totaled 40 air yards, though his average depth of target was only 5 yards. Bourne functioned as Jacoby Brissett's security blanket, consistently moving the chains.

Jennings played 27 passing snaps in his Vikings debut with minimal receiving usage: 1 target on 19 routes (30 yards downfield). He ran 68.4% of his routes from the slot. His impact came in the running game, where he showed blocking skills on Aaron Jones' TD run, sealing Packers DE Barryn Sorrell.

Seahawks QB dealing with injury heading into Week 2, which impacts NFC West competitive landscape. Despite the injury, Seattle beat New England in Week 1 without Darnold and sits at No. 2 in multiple power rankings, though their health status remains a concern for the division's balance.

Rookie RB contributed positively to 49ers' running game in Week 1 win over Rams (27-7). The Athletic's Chad Graff and Josh Kendall specifically cited the running game's strong performance, including Black's involvement, as a key component of the 49ers' dominant offensive display in Australia.

49ers QB delivered strong Week 1 performance in 27-7 win over Rams in Australia; threw for three touchdowns as part of an offense that had no trouble moving the ball against Los Angeles. The Athletic's Chad Graff and Josh Kendall highlighted this performance as evidence of the 49ers' offensive capability despite preseason questions about the aging roster and offseason drama.

49ers third-round rookie RB Kaelon Black (No. 90 overall, 2026 draft) impressed in Week 1 debut with veteran teammate endorsement; McKivitz noted Black 'runs hard,' hits holes decisively without hesitation, and compares favorably to Jordan Mason 'but with a little more juice,' indicating the former Indiana national championship star has earned early offensive role and trust despite minor blocking assignment issues.

Kansas City's linebackers remain gettable in coverage based on Week 1 film, positioning George Kittle and the 49ers' two-headed rushing attack as especially important fantasy assets for their Week 16 matchup against the Chiefs.

Kansas City TE Evan Engram was the only offensive player generating consistent production for the Chiefs in Week 1 Monday Night Football, with some support from RJ Harvey in the run game; this limited offensive output suggests Kansas City's linebackers remain vulnerable in coverage, making George Kittle and the 49ers' rushing attack key fantasy factors for their Week 16 matchup.

Rookie third-rounder Kaelon Black led the 49ers in carries with 14 in Week 1 against the Rams, compared to Christian McCaffrey's 10, while the duo combined for 133 rushing yards. Black looked quick and exploded vertically for quality gains behind great holes from the offensive line, and was able to spell McCaffrey quite a bit. He also demonstrated quality pass protection. The source notes Black's performance came after significant offseason discourse regarding the value of his draft position, and suggests he could be a viable option as a runner who fits well into San Francisco's ground game while keeping McCaffrey fresher.

The source suggests the 49ers may be implementing a committee approach to manage McCaffrey's workload and keep him fresher for later in the season, which the team has expressed as a goal. A 70/30 split would be more optimal than McCaffrey's historical snap counts (83–81 percent in his last two fully healthy seasons). Using McCaffrey more as a receiver, where defenses must account for his talent, could also keep the running back fresher while maintaining offensive ceiling with the 49ers' strong receiving trio of Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle.

In Week 1 against the Rams, McCaffrey was not the team's leading ballcarrier, recording 10 carries (compared to rookie Kaelon Black's 14) while combining for 133 rushing yards. McCaffrey added 5 catches on 8 targets, maintaining a major workload despite the reduced carry share. Cramps were reported after the game, which may have contributed to the carry distribution. Historically, McCaffrey posted snap counts of 83 and 81 percent in his last two fully healthy seasons with the 49ers, and had closer to an 80/20 split with Brian Robinson last year as he led the league in touches.

Depth receiver option who was inactive in the recent Thursday night game; will likely provide depth on game days alongside Jacob Cowing; positioned to potentially move down the depth chart if the 49ers add Darius Slayton.

Free agent candidate the 49ers should consider adding to address receiver depth, even when Stribling is healthy; joining the team would bump Jordan Watkins down the depth chart and create a more formidable receiver room; source notes that while Slayton didn't work out in New York, a change of scenery could be beneficial for the talented receiver.

Expected to return after Week 4 and is a candidate to gain snaps when healthy; positioned to add depth to the receiver room as the 49ers reassess their group following Stribling's injury.

Running back expected to take on a larger snap share at the position due to Stribling's injury and the shift in Christian McCaffrey's usage toward receiver roles; positioned to see increased carries and touches.

Can be used as a receiver to fill snaps vacated by Stribling's injury; part of a workload management strategy where McCaffrey shifts toward more receiver usage while Kaelon Black takes on a larger snap share at running back, maintaining McCaffrey's involvement while lightening his overall workload.

Tight end continues to ramp up from injury; his involvement in the pass game will increase as part of the 49ers' offensive adjustment to replace Stribling's production.

Expected to see increased playing time at multiple positions to replace Stribling's absence; described as a versatile chess piece who will be used situationally across different receiver spots; the source notes that bringing Samuel back looks better by the day given his flexibility.

Expected to fill snaps vacated by Stribling's injury; the plan after Stribling left the game shifted to Robinson being used at different receiver spots alongside Deebo Samuel; projected to start in two-receiver sets alongside Mike Evans.

Rookie wide receiver suffered an ankle injury during the 49ers' game in Australia after just over 20 snaps and was carted off; timeline for return is unclear, forcing the 49ers to replace him in the short term.

Mike Evans caught six of seven targets for 49 yards, with the critical context that over half his targets came on late downs (third down and red zone). He added at least one point in EPA on three different routes (would have been four without a dropped final target). Evans was 3-for-3 against man coverage and perfect out of the slot. He caught five of his six targets on third down and both red zone targets, making him a high-leverage weapon for Brock Purdy, who views Evans as a reliable fallback option in critical situations.

Brock Purdy's QBR was 50 points higher than the other starter (Matthew Stafford) in Week 1. Purdy faced the second-lowest pressure rate of the week, benefiting from an elite offensive line performance. The source notes that Purdy has Mike Evans as a fallback option on third downs, describing it as 'quite the luxury to have,' underscoring his efficiency in high-leverage situations.

Seahawks backup quarterback filled in for injured Sam Darnold and completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions in Week 1 against New England. His efficiency (zero INTs) was notably superior to Patriots starter Drake Maye's performance.

Seahawks quarterback left the Week 1 game against New England with a hip injury after just five plays and is expected to miss some time. The injury is not a fracture and is not currently thought to be season-ending, but his absence creates uncertainty for Seattle's offense.

49ers tight end suffered an MCL-related injury in Week 1 that was described as "not good," creating a significant fantasy concern for the position.

49ers rookie wide receiver suffered a speculated grade 2 deltoid sprain in Week 1 and is expected to be out for at least a month; surgery is on the table. Despite being carted off the field, the injury is not thought to be devastating.

The rookie WR was the Dolphins' second-leading receiver in targets in Week 1, despite it being only his second professional game. At 6'4", Douglas presents a unique physical challenge, but his limited experience and the Dolphins' overall offensive inexperience suggest caution heading into Week 2 against the 49ers.

The 6th-round pick from the 2024 NFL Draft led the Dolphins in targets in Week 1 against the Raiders, indicating he is Miami's primary receiving option despite the team's overall offensive inexperience and struggles. His role as the team's top target receiver is notable given the Dolphins' limited offensive weapons.

Willis posted a poor Week 1 performance against the Raiders with a QBR of 29.4, taking five sacks and generating minimal passing production. He was Miami's leading rusher with only 39 yards, highlighting the Dolphins' offensive struggles and inexperience heading into Week 2 against the 49ers.

Cousins struggled in Week 1 against Miami, throwing two interceptions and completing only one pass beyond 10 yards. Despite these limitations, the Raiders still scored 27 points and lived in Dolphins territory, suggesting the offense's success was driven by ground game efficiency and field position rather than passing production.