The 8th-most important player on the 49ers is Osa Odighizuwa, a former 3rd-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys. Odighizuwa is entering his sixth year in the league, and his first with the 49ers. He’s been a model of consistency: he’s only missed one game in his entire career, playing 84 out of 85 possible games. The multi-time Cowboys captain was traded to the 49ers in March, and although he may not earn the captain’s badge in San Francisco, he brings phenomenal leadership and an excellent mentality to the team.

Odighizuwa cracks the top ten because he is something that the 49ers haven’t had since Javon Hargrave: a true, three-down defensive tackle. He’s a PHENOMENAL interior disruptor, boasting the tenth-best True Pressure Rate among all defensive tackles, according to NFL analyst and trenches expert Brandon Thorn (Trench Warfare). His gap-shooting, explosive run defense fits the 49ers style. He is a consistent presence on a team that DESPERATELY needs one.

The 49ers defensive tackle room has more question marks at the end of training camp than it did at the beginning, but Odighizuwa is the stabilizing force. He will be relied on heavily, both as the second-best pass rusher on the team and one of the key members of the run defense. If he goes down, or if the Niners had never made this trade in the first place, they would have arguably the worst defensive tackle room in the league. It would be another glaring weakness on a defense with plenty of question marks. We saw in 2025 what happens when your defensive tackles can’t stop the run OR rush the passer. Osa Odighizuwa is single-handedly preventing that from happening again.

While I don’t think Odighizuwa is an elite player, never making a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team, he is easily one of the ten most important players on this team. The lack of answers at defensive tackle right now is alarming, and Osa masks so much of that concern. Defensive tackle investment around the league is rapidly rising: Jalen Carter just signed a deal worth $38-million per year. It’s becoming a premium position, and Odighizuwa is the 49ers’ biggest investment at that position. Additionally, he’s only 28 years old, entering the prime of his career. The Niners are infamously an old team.

Odighizuwa doesn’t single-handedly fix that problem, but at 28, you can reasonably expect a few more high-quality years out of him. With every player the 49ers add, I question: “Will this player be part of the next 49ers core?”. I think for Odighizuwa, the answer is yes. Either way, he’s a key member of the defense who will shoulder a large responsibility this season.

The San Francisco 49ers acquired wide receiver Mike Evans in March 2026 on a three-year, $42 million contract, the third-highest wide receiver contract in 49ers history. This is Evans’ first year as a 49er, who will need to, over time, build chemistry with players and coaches on his first new team going into his 13th season in the NFL.

Signing Evans is a huge step in the right direction for the Niners. Evans has one of the best reputations in the NFL. From 2014 to 2024, he recorded 1,000 yards or more, tying Jerry Rice’s record for the longest such streak to open a career.

Evans also has a Super Bowl ring with legendary quarterback Tom Brady on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Teams need championship experience to go to the next level, and Evans will add that mindset to this team.

There are many reasons why Evans is one of the most important players on the roster. The most significant being his consistency. Including his yardage record, his ability to get to the ball with ease is extremely impressive. A true “X” receiver, Evans has long made his mark by winning 50-50 balls and getting impressive separation for his size.

The last 49er to record 1,000 receiving yards was George Kittle in 2024, the team’s tight end. If Evans can do this again, it would not only take pressure off Deebo Samuel, but also make up for Brandon Aiyuk’s absence.

Evans had a multitude of injuries last year, including a left hamstring injury and a broken collarbone. The six-time Pro Bowler is already dealing with a groin injury during training camp, with it unknown how serious it with with the team’s extremely cautious outlook.

With multiple injury stints in recent years for the 49ers, including the electrical substation mystery, Evans absolutely needs to be at his fullest potential to remain one of the top targets.

Out of the entire roster, Evans ranks No. 9 comfortably. As the top receiver and the one expected to produce some of the most offensive production, this is a good spot for a receiver under the top 10.

Other positions in the NFL are more important than receiver. Route runners cannot produce their work unless, for example, the offensive line or the quarterback do their jobs correctly.

That’s why Evans is not further down the list. Receivers are often on their own pace rather than playing within the core team. It is them versus the cornerback, not line versus line. Evans has the championship pedigree, the reliability, and the yardage compared to the team’s other receivers.

The Purdy-Evans connection is crucial for this team to go far. Yes, they have the run game with Christian McCaffrey, but teams need to pass the ball to someone reliable for other scoring opportunities. With Kittle nursing and recovering from a major injury, Evans will be relied upon early and often. Should the former stay healthy, Evans could become an insane luxury as a #3 option within the offense.

The success was nothing new for Eddie, which is why he earned the #10 spot on our list. The SF K1 is currently second all-time in career FG percentage (89.7%), behind only Cameron Dicker. Should he pick up where he left off in ‘25, there’s a chance he takes the lead this year. That type of reliability is invaluable for a team that makes as many red-zone trips as SF does. Being able to consistently come away with points anytime you crack the 40 is a cheat code. To illustrate his value succinctly, please take a moment to recall what it felt like seeing former K Jake Moody take the field in a key moment. No further comments needed; that dude took years off my life.

Eddie may be #10 on our list, but he’s #1 in our hearts. Being a placekicker, there’s only so high we could rank him. Still, we implore you to take notice as the season progresses of just how great it feels to watch steady Eddie ping ‘em as he never lets the moment get too big. That first over 1.5 FG prop is going to hit like Fred Warner come September, cannot freakin’ wait.

Quarterback (3): Brock Purdy, Mac Jones, Kurtis Rourke

Cuts: Adrian Martinez

The annual question at quarterback: do you keep two or three? Last year, the 49ers didn’t have a worthy QB3, so the choice was obvious. This year, I think that the 49ers will be unable to get Kurtis Rourke through waivers. So many teams run a variation of the Shanahan system and could use a talented young QB like Rourke. His performance against the Titans could be the reason he makes this roster.

Running Back (4): Christian McCaffrey, Jordan James, Kaelon Black, Kyle Juszczyk

Cuts: Khalil Herbert, Sincere McCormick, Isaac Guerendo (PUP), Zamir White* (traded)

After going heavy at QB, I’m going uncharacteristically light at running back. Normally, teams prefer to carry four (or sometimes more) true running backs, but I’ve opted for only three. I think Guerendo likely stays on the PUP list for the foreseeable future, sort of a soft cut. But none of the other three veterans (Herbert, McCormick, and White already moved) have really proven to be 53-worthy this offseason. I think the 49ers will carry three running backs, but elevate a fourth from the practice squad as necessary. The precedent is there; they did something similar with Russell Gage last year at wide receiver.

Wide Receiver (6): Mike Evans, De’Zhaun Stribling, Deebo Samuel, Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing

Cuts: Christian Kirk (IR), Malik Turner, Kha’Darel Hodge, Will Pauling, Wesley Grimes

Receiver is one of the most difficult position battles on the entire roster. The top 4 feel very set in stone, but the rest of the roster is extremely close. I decided to keep both Watkins and Cowing. One of them will likely be this team’s punt returner, and both can be depth receivers: Watkins on the outside, Cowing in the slot. Shanahan himself noted that Christian Kirk could be an IR-return candidate, so I have him off the roster for now. This room gets much trickier to sort out if he’s healthy. As I mentioned with the running backs, there may be practice squad elevations in play for Malik Turner and KhaDarel Hodge, phenomenal special teamers who have flashed on offense.

Tight End (3): George Kittle, Jake Tonges, Luke Farrell

Cuts: Brayden Willis, Hayden Rucci, Khalil Dinkins

At tight end, the primary question is George Kittle’s availability. Can Kittle play Week 1? While I can’t answer that just yet, I do believe he will be healthy enough to avoid the PUP list. If he doesn’t make the trip to Australia, I think he could play as soon as Week 2, which means he’s making the active roster. Tonges and Farrell are shoo-ins behind him, but we may see a practice squad elevation for Brayden Willis for Week 1.

Offensive Line (9): Trent Williams, Carver Willis, Jake Brendel, Dominick Puni, Colton McKivitz, Connor Colby, Brett Toth, Austen Pleasants, Robert Jones

Cuts: Vederian Lowe (IR), Enrique Cruz, Brandon Parker, Drake Nugent, Nick Zakelj, Doug Kramer Jr, Isaac Alarcon

With the injuries already affecting this position, more depth is better. Puni, Pleasants, and Toth are all banged up. Robert Jones I think will ultimately lose the battle with Connor Colby, but makes this team anyways, because Pleasants will be needed as the swing tackle. Vederian Lowe is an IR return candidate according to Kyle Shanahan. So Pleasants is the swing tackle, while Jones and Colby can both play guard, and Toth can be your center. This feels like the most flexible offensive line group the 49ers can assemble from their current room. Unfortunately, it doesn’t feature Enrique Cruz, who simply needs more development on the practice squad before he can be a useful NFL player.

Defensive Line (10): Nick Bosa, Osa Odighizuwa, Sam Okuayinonu, Romello Height, Alfred Collins, CJ West, Gracen Halton, Keion White, Ogbo Okoronkwo, James Thompson Jr

Cuts: Mykel Williams (PUP), Sebastian Valdez, Bryson Eason, Quinton Bell, Victor Dimukeje, Evan Anderson, Viliami Fehoko

With Mykel Williams likely remaining on the PUP list to start the season, the 49ers will need to go heavy to replace his versatility on the defensive line. Ogbo Okoronkwo is the beneficiary; after a nice preseason, he earns the 5th edge spot for now. Sebastian Valdez is a lovely gap-shooter, but that skillset overlaps with Odighizuwa’s and Halton’s. James Thompson Jr is the strongest defensive tackle on the roster, and shows high potential as a run defender while already flashing as a pass rusher. I just do not believe you can leave him off this roster, as he’s too important to this team already and may play quite a bit as soon as Week 1.

Linebacker (5): Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Garrett Wallow, Jaden Dugger, Nick Martin

Cuts: Tatum Bethune, Luke Gifford (IR), Deion Jones, Larry Worth III, Jalen Graham

Linebacker is one of the most clear-cut position groups on the team, if you ask me. Warner and Greenlaw are locks. Martin and Dugger are recent draft picks who I don’t think the Niners are ready to give up on yet. And Garrett Wallow has been the most impressive backup LB this year. Unfortunately, this leaves Tatum Bethune on the outside looking in. Bethune is a good NFL player and probably a trade candidate if the 49ers are committed to keeping Dugger and Martin. Luke Gifford’s struggled with a hamstring injury all camp, and I have him put on IR here. The final three linebackers could each make an appearance on the practice squad.

Cornerback (6): Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, Upton Stout, Jack Jones, Nate Hobbs, Ephesians Prysock

Cuts: Darrell Luter Jr, Eli Apple, Jakob Robinson

There are four roster locks at corner for the 49ers: Lenoir, Green, Stout, and the draft pick Prysock. The question comes down to the final spots: will they keep five corners, or six? In either case, I think Jack Jones is pretty close to a lock. His start to training camp was electric, and his playmaking ability should help this team grab more than six interceptions this season. In this version of the roster, the final spot on the 53 goes to Nate Hobbs, a corner who has struggled to stay healthy in camp. However, Hobbs is owed three million dollars in guaranteed money. Hobbs’ inside-out versatility and high guarantees should earn him the spot on the 53.

Safety (4): Ji’Ayir Brown, Marques Sigle, Malik Mustapha, Siran Neal

Cuts: Ashtyn Davis, Patrick McMorris, Jalen Stroman

The options are slim at safety. Brown, Sigle, and Mustapha will all certainly make the team if healthy, just because there’s really nobody else to lean on. Mustapha’s hamstring injury could open up a spot for a free agent safety, but for now I’m putting him on the roster. I gave the final spot to Siran Neal over Ashtyn Davis because of Neal’s positional versatility and superior special teams play. Jalen Stroman should make the practice squad after a few nice plays in the preseason, but I think the 53 is just a bit too far out of reach.

Specialists (3): Eddy Piñeiro, Corliss Waitman, Jon Weeks

Cuts: None

No surprises here with the special teams unit.

The 53-man roster will always bring surprises, but this is a strong group that I think will compete for the playoffs with even a little bit of injury luck. I included some realistic surprises who I think could miss the cut, like Robert Jones, Tatum Bethune, Sebastian Valdez, Luke Gifford, and perhaps none more surprising than Christian Kirk.

San Francisco fully reset the defensive tackle position in the 2025 offseason, parting ways with highly paid free agent acquisition Javon Hargrave and trade acquisition Maliek Collins, opting for a youth movement. They drafted Alfred Collins in the 2nd round, C.J. West in the 4th round, and frequently lined up 1st-round edge defender Mykel Williams on the interior on passing downs. This group, along with veterans Kalia Davis and Jordan Elliott, flashed at times but struggled often and failed to make a consistent impact. The defensive tackles on the roster combined for only 3.5 sacks, led by two from West.

With an influx of new talent this offseason and as we near the season, it’s worth taking a look at where the 49ers stand in their rebuild of the position group. Davis and Elliott are out, and to replace them, the team traded for former Cowboy Osa Odighizuwa, who should be a huge upgrade—particularly on passing plays. Odighizuwa has accumulated 112 quarterback pressures over the last two seasons per PFF, ranking among the top 11 defensive tackles each of those years.

The 49ers also added to their growing group of young players at the position, drafting undersized Oklahoma standout Gracen Halton in the 4th round and adding Bryson Eason and James Thompson Jr. as undrafted free agents. All three rookies have reportedly impressed in their training camp opportunities, but Thursday night was the first official look at them in red and gold.

With the veteran starters resting, Collins and 2025 undrafted rookie Sebastian Valdez manned the interior spots with the opening unit. Collins is the highest draft pick of the group and an expected starter, but he had a rough night against the Titans 1st-team offense. He was consistently washed out of the play in the run game, most notably on Tony Pollard’s 5-yard touchdown run in the first quarter when recently extended left guard Peter Skoronski forklifted him out of the way to open a cutback lane. Collins also failed to make any impact as a pass rusher; PFF did not credit him with a single pressure or pass rush win on the night.

If Collins fails to rebound, it could open the door to playing time for less-heralded young players. West had a promising finish to 2025 with two sacks in the last 5 games of the season, although he did not participate in the first preseason game. Halton flashed serious potential on Thursday as both a pass rusher and a run defender. His most notable highlight came from a 3-technique alignment in the 2nd quarter when he exploded off the ball and hit Skoronski’s outside shoulder, blowing between him and left tackle Dan Moore Jr. for a 14-yard sack that was negated by a defensive holding penalty down the field. The undrafted trio of Valdez, Thompson, and Eason also impressed, with Eason in particular standing out against the run.

An improved interior is crucial to the 49ers turning around a defense that ranked dead last in the NFL in sacks last season and 2nd to last in tackles for loss, but there is a lack of certainty next to Odighizuwa. If Collins turns in more poor preseason performances, particularly in the run game, the team could be forced to turn to other options. West would likely be the leading candidate, but he and 2024 UDFA Evan Anderson are the only other options with any NFL experience. Both have under 300 NFL defensive snaps. In the passing game, edge defenders Williams—when healthy—and Keion White can kick inside and pick up some slack, but neither added significant production to last season’s struggling group.

A breakout season from a rookie or second-year player would go a long way towards creating confidence in the inexperienced unit, and early returns are promising. But the 49ers are taking a big gamble on an important position group, and the defense could be in for some long days if it fails to pay off.

More importantly, as it pertains to his odds to secure the 49ers RB2 role, Black executed two fantastic blitz pickups at pivotal moments. One came on 2nd and 5, allowing Brock Purdy to get the ball out to Deebo Samuel; the other on 3rd and 4. The former involved taking on a car crash with 225-LB Daiyan Henley, the latter he correctly keyed onto a corner blitz. Equally important to what they do with the ball in their hands, pass pro at the NFL level is often the primary determinant of rookie running-back reps. On both accounts, it’s looking good for Black. Albeit quite early on– 20 snaps in to be precise. It feels like he’ll take hold as Christian McCaffrey’s direct backup, if he hasn’t done so already. Time will tell, but I’m bullish. Very bullish.

Final note: Draft him as the CMC handcuff with confidence over the next two to three weeks in your fantasy leagues. There’s a very real possibility Kaelon is now the biggest upside swing you can possibly take in your RB5 spot.

The 49ers continued their preseason slate on Thursday night and headed to Levi’s South to take on their former head coach Jim Harbaugh and his Los Angeles Chargers. With a lot of questions surrounding position battles and how some of the rookies would play, the Niners left their home away from home with an impressive 41-17 victory that featured several highlights. Let’s take a look at the highs and lows of the 49ers win.

Hot:

The Strib Club

De’Zhaun Stribling has been nothing short of a revelation in his first two preseason games. Four catches for 46 yards doesn’t wow anyone on paper, but Stribling has shown strong hands and a willingness to go across the middle. His continued growth is only going to keep the excitement over his abilities and usage at a fever pitch headed into the regular season when Kyle Shanahan unleashes the full scope of his offense.

The Punt Return Competition may be over

Early in the game, Deebo Samuel was tapped to return punts, and the results were uninspiring. Downed balls and fair catches bring little fanfare. Jacob Cowing would assume the duties, and then in the late in the second quarter, the Faithful saw something rare. Cowing would field a punt at the 17-yard line and race across the field and around the edge on his way to an 83-yard touchdown! As special teams have been a struggle for the 49ers for the better part of the last decade, Cowing may have earned himself a roster spot on just one play.

Jaden Dugger

Another player from the 49ers’ 2026 draft class that has been heavily scrutinized, Dugger’s length and athleticism have been impressive so far through the first two games. Although Dugger was beat initially while covering Chargers Tight End Oronde Gadsden, he was able to recover and use his size to break up a pass downfield to an equally large Gadsden. By showcasing his ability and versatility, Dugger is looking to find himself a role in Raheem Morris’ defense this season.

A CMC-less Rushing Attack

It’s the preseason and absolutely nobody expects Christian McCaffrey to see the field, but his understudies were on display Thursday night. Rookie Kaelon Black got the start in his first action with the Niners. He looked decisive and ran with power in his limited action, but his pass protection may have been his biggest highlight as he appealed to Shanahan’s insistence on blocking by effectively protecting his quarterback. Sincere McCormick took over and showcased his abilities with six carries for 53 yards and a touchdown with a long of 37 yards. Maybe this will be the year that CMC doesn’t see the ball 400 times.

Lukewarm

The 2021 Draft Debate

Admit it, if you were a 49ers fan in the spring of 2021, you hated the idea that they traded up to the third pick to draft Mac Jones. And then you may have even ‘invested’ long term in a number five Trey Lance jersey shortly after the draft. As the respective backups last night, (not for the teams they were drafted by) we went back to the future to see what could have possibly been if things had broken differently.

Cold

Anyone have a Left Guard?

We are now nine days away from the 53-man roster being announced, and the answer to who will line up next to Trent Williams is no clearer now then it was headed into Training Camp. Connor Colby and Robert Jones entered camp as the favorites for the job, but neither has been able to lock it down. Rookie Carver Willis has inserted himself into the conversation as well, but like Colby and Jones has not done enough to take the job. Time will tell, but this will be a glaring problem this season until it isn’t.

Hamstrings

It wouldn’t be a 49ers game if it ended with a fully healthy roster, and Thursday night would prove to be no different. Renardo Green and Nick Martin, both of whom are earmarked for big roles this year, suffered hamstring injuries. While no timeline has been given as of yet for returns, hamstrings can linger and alter playing time and roles. Offensive lineman Austin Pleasants also suffered an apparent knee injury which could sideline home for quite a while.

Saying Goodbye

We are almost at that time where we have attached ourselves to players that are fighting for a spot on the roster that we will inevitably have to say farewell to. Every year a player will flash and generate some buzz, only to never be seen or heard from again. Next Sunday will be the end of the road for a lot of roster hopefuls, but can they do enough to catch on somewhere, anywhere in the league?

The first part of last season could have gone south very fast with all the injuries, but they held it together. In the process, we found out how deep this team is. The hits kept coming all year, but this team wasn’t phased. Even in the playoffs — losing Kittle early, on the road with practice squad guys as our starting linebackers stepping up — they pulled off a great team win. The ending to last season got ugly from the opening kickoff — it is what it is. In the end we got clarity: Brock is worth it. Aiyuk didn’t come back, CMC stayed healthy, and Saleh fixed the defense, earning himself another head coaching gig.

The carryover can’t be ignored. We saw Purdy do more with less, and the offense work without him. Now they’ve added Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, Deebo Samuel Sr, and rookie De’Zaun Stribling. It will be interesting to see who fills out that final wide receiver spot, but this current wide receiver core is definitely an upgrade. CMC staying healthy will be key, but with the new additions, it should open up the offense in ways we didn’t see last season. The depth behind him is still unknown, so RB2 will be worth watching. Kittle is aiming for a week 1 return, but if he’s not ready, Jake Tonges has shown he can be reliable in the passing game. Outside of the competition at left guard, the offensive line remains mostly intact from 2025. So in theory… the offense should be better, right?

On the defensive side of the ball, the 49ers are getting back the big names they lost to injury: Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams. The 49ers brought back Dre Greenlaw and traded for defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa. Losing Saleh is big, so Raheem Morris has some big shoes to fill. Establishing a pass rush will be huge — the lack of one last season put a lot of pressure on a young secondary. The 2025 49ers defense was tested from start to finish. We’ll see how that carries over to the 2026 team. So in theory… the defense should be better, right?

Overall, the 49ers look better coming into ‘26 with the offseason additions and the players returning from injury. Some questions remain: How do the second-year players progress? Which rookies make the biggest impact? Will Raheem Morris elevate the defense? Can they stay healthy? By the end of the season, these and many other questions will be answered. It’s why we tune in year after year.

Initially upon his selection in the draft, many draft gurus and experts declared the pick to be a reach by the 49ers. At 6’ 2” and 207 lbs., the general consensus was that Stribling was a mid-round pick at best coming out of Ole Miss. In his lone season in Oxford, he recorded 55 catches for 811 yards and six touchdowns. While his vertical speed was well documented, his knock to draftniks was his ability to separate, especially on underneath routes. Another knock against him was the route tree he ran while at Ole Miss, which was simplified and did not feature many NFL concepts. Fortunately for Stribling, he did runs different, more elaborate scheme in his time at Oklahoma State prior to transferring to Ole Miss.

In the time after the draft, reports began to emerge that despite the consensus of the experts, NFL scouting departments viewed Stribling in a much different light. Rumors of other teams looking hard at the Rebel prospect were documented and that he could have been drafted soon after pick 33 had the 49ers not selected him. The division rival Los Angeles Rams have also been named as a team that was enamored with him through the draft process.

Throughout training camp, the 49ers’ vision for Stribling has been evident to those watching. A big, physical receiver who can be a deep threat, while not needing to be an immediate starter and learning under future Hall of Famer Mike Evans. Reports through camp have shown that Stribling is already beginning to build a rapport with quarterback Brock Purdy. This, of course, is further evidenced by reports of deep touchdowns and highlight catches between the two.

This past week, the excitement for Stribling hit a fever pitch, as he was the offensive highlight for the 49ers’ first preseason matchup against the Titans. While the statistics were not mind-blowing, it was the effort that mattered. Stribling was attacking the ball and showed strong hands at the catch point. His ability to adjust to the ball in route and use his body to get between the defender and the ball showcased his natural ability and instincts.

While it’s far too early to anoint the rookie as the next coming of Jerry Rice or Terrell Owens, his early showings have created an optimism that has been rare for rookie receivers in the Kyle Shanahan era. The Faithful have every reason to be excited to see what he will bring to this version of the 49ers’ offense alongside Evans, Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle. And if he’s required to play meaningful snaps early on, there’s hope he can step up into that role.

The future for the 49ers rookie appears to be very bright, and the road to ‘Strib City’ will be a trip we all will be excited to travel!

Photo credit: David Brytus, Imagn Images

Jeremiyah Love | 11 carries, 58 yards | 3 receptions, 14 yards |

As we must with all preseason performances, let’s keep it in context: many of the defenders we were watching Thursday night will be working in stripmalls come September. Still, what we want to see is: A) What usage does the team have in mind for the rooks? B) Given the softer defensive context they’re operating in, how do they perform?

Love looked strong on both accounts. 14 opportunities on 24 total snaps, outplaying backfield mate Tyler Allgeier 4:1 in that department. In those opportunities we got the full array of Love’s skill set: a nice outside-zone run where he got the edge against a penetrating lineman, finishing off the 11-yard gain with a signature spin move. He also put a hurdle on tape to complete his longest run of the evening on an inside draw. My biggest fantasy related concern with Love is simply teams stacking the box as much as possible. Beyond that, the talent very much looks as advertised through the third overall pick’s first 14 touches. He’s my RB13 and I’m very comfortable taking him at the 2/3 turn.

Photo credit: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, S.F. Chronicle

De’Zhaun Stribling | 8 targets, 7 catches, 62 yards |

The controversial second-round pick has been making noise all camp long. We saw why Thursday night. Stribling made the most of his 22 snaps against Tennessee’s starting defense. His strong hands and big frame were on display as he moved all around the formation. He took a sweep out of the backfield, plucked a missile out of the air on a contested first-down grab, and had the highlight of the night with his big chunk play down the sideline. It’s highly encouraging to see Shanahan trust him enough to give him some of the more complex scheme work. It’s even better to see Stribs deliver on his prospect profile straight away. The runway could not be more clear for him to earn reps as the year develops. The base he already has as an elite run-blocking, sure-handed speedster is enough for him to get plenty of Week 1 snaps. He’s my pick to be their second-leading fantasy scorer at the position. I’m drafting Stribling everywhere I can as my bench-stash WR5. You should be too.

Preseason performances should always be taken with a grain of salt, but very early returns on both Stribling and Love gave prospective managers something to get excited about as we sit on the dawn of redraft season. The market has been pricing in question marks all summer; their prices are ripe for the picking. I’m feeling bullish moving forward.

*All positional ranks and ADPs from FantasyPros composite data.

Christian McCaffrey | RB3 | ADP: 5

There’s no reason to get too in the weeds here. If he stays upright, CMC will be a top-five running back at worst. The elephant in the room: can he stay on the field? Following league-leading touch totals in 2019 and 2023, he was the RB52 (2020) and RB47 (2024), playing a combined seven games across both seasons. A bet on Christian is simply a bet on health.

Should you make that bet? I begged you to smash the pick last year, and it was absolutely the right call to do so. Personally, I’m not here to be a 49ers homer, and I’m not making that pick. I’m here to give you the best fantasy advice possible. I’ll opt for the safety of an Amon-Ra St. Brown or the similar ceiling Jonathan Taylor offers, still in his age apex. I also have James Cook and his new potentially expanded passing role above both of them as my RB3. I hate to do this, but CMC is a full fade for me in ‘26.

Mike Evans | WR27 | ADP: 62

I am drafting a disgusting amount of Mike Evans, and I implore you all to follow my lead. Again, injuries loom large over this discussion. Evans has missed 24 games in his 12-season career; however, half of those (12) have been over the last two seasons. My view on it: I’m not weighing a collarbone break as something chronic that should factor too heavily moving forward. That collarbone accounts for nine of his career missed games.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are getting a round five to six price tag on one of the best receivers Kyle Shanahan has ever coached. One of the best X receivers the sport has ever seen. Jauan Jennings has departed, leaving behind 203 vacated targets over two seasons, including 34 red-zone targets and 12 red-zone touchdowns. Evans is a big-bodied, elite route-runner whose game meshes perfectly with QB Brock Purdy. He can still effectively attack all three levels of the field. At the risk of being hyperbolic, I believe we see one of the highest usage, most fantasy productive seasons of Mike Evans’ career. We can get him as our second or third WR in round five! Don’t walk, run to that podium when you have the chance.

Brock Purdy | QB14 | ADP: 112

Purdy has averaged 19.4 PPG across 2024 and 2025, good for the full-season equivalent of a mid-range QB1. We can land him mid-to-late round nine and outside of the top 12 in ADP. This is a very easy click for me. Purdy’s spike weeks are as robust as any of his contemporaries, and his high efficiency gives him a strong floor. There’s also a degree of unsung rushing upside there. If you’re going to punt QB, as I often do, Purdy is the final infinity stone you need to assemble a league-winning gauntlet. Take him with confidence and do your best Thanos impression as you decimate your league-mates.

George Kittle | TE9 | ADP: 92

If you’re sensing a theme here, you’d be correct. This is entirely a bet on health, quite thematic for 49ers fans. Kittle is a Hall of Fame talent and on more than one occasion has nuked a fantasy season for his managers. His ADP has crept up, but he still sits firmly behind far less proven commodities in second-year standout Harold Fannin Jr. and career TE2 Kyle Pitts Sr. Again, no sense wasting digital ink here. If you’re willing to take on the risk of diminished play post-Achilles and of compensatory injuries in the now 33-year-old, there’s an enormous potential payoff at current ADP.

Personally, I’m drafting around him. I prefer the volume for Travis Kelce or touchdown equity for Mark Andrews over the higher-ceiling, lower-floor prospect of Kittle. I also think they have a gem of a backup in Jake Tonges who should see more passing-down work, which would mean relegating George to more of an early down runblocker/play action type role. Still, there’s league-winning upside there if we get even 85% of his pre-achilles self.

Deebo Samuel | WR53 | ADP: 131

This ADP will not hold as the redraft season gets fully underway: Deebo will almost certainly rise to around pick 100. He’ll land in that upside WR4 range alongside guys like Quentin Johnston and Wan’Dale Robinson. There are multiple paths for Deebo to pay off at ADP. Before his ankle injury, he posted an impressive 17.7 PPR PPG with the Commanders in 2025. He now returns to the play-caller who made his career what it is, to the man on the sticks who knows how to use him better than anyone. Combine that with the WR2-sized hole left from Ricky Pearsall’s season-ending injury, and the light running back room behind CMC. I would project anywhere from 6-10 opportunities per game for the returning Samuel. Additionally, all that stands between him and a massive role increase are Mike Evans, George Kittle, and CMC’s health. Which, as we’ve well covered by now... He’s a great bet as an upside WR4/5 for any roster. I wouldn’t be shocked if we look up at some point this season and Deebo is being ranked as fringe WR2.

De’Zhaun Stribling | WR63 | ADP: 174

The case for Stribling is twofold. One, always, always always, chase asymmetric ranges of outcomes with your last redraft bench pieces. We want guys that can be complete zeros, or roster-cracking heroes. These players will often be dropped for bye weeks or better prospects anyway. What we want out of them is to act as lottery tickets that we get a several-week free look at while offenses take form. What happens if Stribling comes out with a 40-yard catch-and-run TD the first week? How much FAAB would immediately be dumped on him?

More importantly, what if we take the Niners at face value that they do, in fact, believe him to be an elite talent? He’s already a plus run blocker, which should get him on the field early. His Relative Athletic Score is tremendous (9.57, 182/4,196 qualified scorers). As we went over, there are hundreds of vacated targets here from the last two years. He’s a big-bodied, strong-handed receiver with a big catch-radius. He offers legitimate speed to a unit that sorely misses it. My bet is that Stribs plays more than the fan base and fantasy community thinks he does. He’s going to be a staple WR5/6 add on for me in drafts come late August, and I’d highly recommend him for your builds too. It’s free upside, in this economy!

Eddie Pinero | K10 | ADP: 225

Those of you that were tailing my prop bets last year know Eddie Pineiro is a 49ersHub favorite. That dude was a wagon. He’ll be borderline free in drafts too. The 49ers offense will have one of the highest point totals week in and week out, and red-zone trips should be aplenty. Eddie is an excellent choice as your fantasy kicker.

There it is, folks. Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for the week one prop bets from me, only on the 49ersHub!

Fan favorites and main pieces of the 49ers’ championship runs had moved on. But sometimes in life, you can actually go home again.

Headed into this training camp, a wide receiver room that was supposed to be set suddenly was not. Brandon Aiyuk, only two seasons after signing the largest contract for a receiver in team history, was no longer a part of the future. Ricky Pearsall was still battling a PCL injury that would not heal and finally a decision was made to have surgery. While future Hall of Famer Mike Evans had been brought in to be the number one option in the passing game and the team used their top pick in this year’s draft on Ole Miss De’Zhaun Stribling to develop for the future, the organization still felt they needed more: re-enter Deebo Samuel.

After a relatively uninspiring season in Washington, Samuel hit free agency and found himself with little interest. The 49ers were interested in a reunion, and the Pearsall injury news was the push they needed to bring Deebo back after having some communication in the weeks leading up to his signing. The question that has to be asked is that now that he is no longer viewed as the number one option, how will Deebo’s skill set translate to this iteration of Kyle Shanahan’s offense? Will he be the third or fourth option in the progressions, or will Kyle dial up the gadget plays that Deebo has been so good at in years past?

The linebacker position last year was a carousel. After Fred Warner’s gruesome ankle injury in Tampa Bay, the team relied on Dee Winters and Tatum Bethune to patrol the second level. That would not go as smoothly as hoped due to injury and inconsistent play. Heading into last year’s postseason, Garrett Wallow and Eric Kendricks were taking the majority of the snaps. While Warner was chomping at the bit to get back, it was clear at season’s end that upgrades would be necessary. Two moves would define the position this off-season: Winters would be dealt to the Dallas Cowboys, and Denver would decide to move on from Dre Greenlaw after only one season.

While still fighting injuries in the early part of 2025, Greenlaw would finish the season strong and was arguably the Broncos’ best player in the AFC championship game against the New England Patriots. The idea of reuniting Greenlaw and Warner seemed too good to be true for most, but the 49ers found a way to make it happen and bring the team’s former defensive enforcer back into the fold.

Both Samuel and Greenlaw shared a common sentiment upon returning in that the culture of the 49ers was remarkable and that not all organizations operate in the fashion that they do. Their signings bring plenty of nostalgia with them, but also plenty of questions. With the NFC West as strong as ever, will these familiar faces be able to push the team back to the top of the division? Do the 49ers consider this their last best chance at a title? How will these moves affect the development of their younger players? Only time will tell, but one more season with explosive jet sweeps and opponents fearing the middle of Raheem Morris’ defense should give the Faithful plenty to get excited about in 2026.

San Francisco does reside in California.

So, should the 49ers make the move?

Yes, and no. Let’s get into it.

Vita Vea’s Value

Vea is one of the league’s elite nose tackles and has long been since entering the league in 2018. His career totals don’t jump off the page, just two Pro Bowls honors and 35 sacks over eight seasons, but that doesn’t do justice to his role and how effective he is in it. Vea is a premier run stuffer who sets the middle of the defensive line, while adding enough pass rush to be an effective three-down lineman. He’s pound-for-pound one of the strongest players in the NFL and combines it with shocking athleticism for weighing 350+ pounds.

Talent-wise, if Dexter Lawrence went for the 10th overall pick, Vea isn’t far behind. That said, Vea is 31 years old and due for a new contract after the season, meaning a trade would almost certainly include an agreed-upon extension. The current going rate for a premier interior lineman is in the $20-$25m range, but at his age you’re likely looking at fewer years and higher guarantees even if you can be on the lower end of the annual money.

49ers Fit

The 49ers aren’t directly in need of Vea’s services. The off-season trade for Osa Odighizuwa filled out a solid starting defensive line and interior alongside last year’s rookie class. Odighizuwa and Vea play virtually different positions despite both being listed as defensive tackles, so their fit together would mesh exceptionally well.

However, 2025 2nd-round pick Alfred Collins is expected to slot into the role that Vea primarily plays. The two wouldn’t see the field together much outside of goal-line and short-yardage situations, and Vea’s pass-rush presence would render Collins redundant. At the same time, Vea’s ability to get to the passer isn’t outright elite, meaning neither are exactly sure bets to be in on obvious passing downs.

Having Vita Vea wouldn’t hurt by any stretch. The depth, run-stopping, and versatility he provides would improve the line drastically and immediately. The question becomes of Alfred Collins’ playtime and usage.

Cost

John Lynch and the 49ers front office would have to outbid a few teams who’d want Vea’s services, but I wouldn’t expect the cost to be substantial. They have their full allotment of draft picks in 2027, so parting with a late day two selection or a couple day three picks is certainly palatable. They may need to discuss moving one of Collins or C.J. West in this scenario if stock in the vaunted ‘27 class is more valuable to them.

Cap-wise, this is a tougher pill to swallow. Per Overthecap.com, the 49ers have plenty of space this year, leading the league with an available $71.2m. A heavily front-loaded deal on a short-term length is possible. However, it appears Lynch plans on rolling as much of that space over as future years paint a far less rosy picture. The 49ers currently rank 30th (-$35.1m) and 32nd (-$20.4m) in current cap space for 2027 and 2028, and are the only team in the league actively in the negative for ‘28.

Conclusion

How much the 49ers entertain this trade (or others) will say a lot about the state of the team. Such an aggressive move would firmly place them in “all in” territory if any future draft stock, younger player, or later cap space is used. Adding such a dynamic piece would turbocharge what should be a rejuvenated defensive line with year two of Mykel Williams and the return of Nick Bosa.

However, the writing on the wall doesn’t seem to line up for such a trade. Vea’s age, expected salary, and potential fit all add up to making this a murky deal. I’d imagine Lynch and Kyle Shanahan kick the tires on this one, but unless West intrigues the Buccaneers, a serious offer likely won’t be made.

The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. In this instance the heuristic cuts both ways. Brady has a track record of convincing organizations to take on volatile assets, and those bets have historically paid off. Is bringing Brandon Aiyuk to Las Vegas his next reclamation project?

Brady is no stranger to buying low on controversial, high upside receivers. In the cases of Josh Gordon and Antonio Brown, he took on far more than asinine social media posts. Over the course of 11 games in 2018 Gordon posted a line of 40/720/3 before stepping away from the team as part of his continuing struggle with substance abuse issues. The same issues that had plagued him for years before the trade, leading to multiple suspensions during his Browns tenure. The Patriots would go on to win the Super Bowl that season, and Gordon, living with Brady at the time, would get a ring for his efforts.

Brown’s transgressions were far more wide ranging. Culminating in his release from the Patriots in 2019 and later receiving an eight game suspension to start 2020 as a result of the sexual assault allegations and subsequent intimidation of his accuser via text messages. What did Brady do? Recruited him to the 2020 Buccaneers. Again, invited the man to live in his house, around his family to be clear. The results? Another ring. Worth noting, in 2018 and 2020 they eliminated Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. Those postseasons now weigh heavily in legacy discussions for both men. Brady has been consistently rewarded for making these exact types of high-risk, high-reward decisions.

In comes Aiyuk. His behavior has ranged from speeding on video, mocking the 49ers for signing him, verbally attacking Jayden Daniels mother, and perhaps worst of all, his commentary on head coach Kyle Shanahan post car accident.

To be clear, Aiyuk is not Antonio Brown or Josh Gordon. Drug suspensions and sexual assault allegations are in a different moral universe than immature, antagonistic social media posts. The point is that Brady has a history of catching these falling, misbehaving knives. Granted Aiyuk isn’t the talent of either Gordon or Brown, but the last full season we saw from him he did achieve second team all pro status on his way to a line of 75/1342/7. While his behavior has been off color, and he might be far less desirable for most teams as a result, what might Brady, and by extension the Raiders think?

The fit is clearly there with newly minted head coach Klint Kubiak at the helm. The scheme is ideal as the Kubiaks and Shanahans have a 30 year track record of developing together. The Raiders are currently planning to roll out Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, and Jack Bech at wide receiver. Aiyuk is by far the best talent they could possibly add ahead of 2026, and he’s literally free come September. Should he regain even 85% of his 2023 form, he’d be a foundational piece of the new look LV squad for years to come.

Brady has already gone toe to toe with the likes of Bill Belichick and Bruce Arians to insist on acquiring risky wideouts while personally taking responsibility for them. Nudging brand new HC Klint Kubiak in his direction should be light work in comparison. His legacy was both built and transformed as a result. The Raiders are my bet for Brandon Aiyuk’s next team, and I think the fit is excellent.

For Craig, the wait was long. Over three decades since he played in his final game, Craig was overlooked by voters who would point to Craig’s supporting cast and “genius” head coach as to why he was successful in the 49ers’ west coast offense. Many of those teammates would point to Craig as the reason the offense was so effective. Despite the resume, the jewelry, and the championships, Craig had not been given the full recognition from the sports writers that he deserved until now.

As a second round pick out of Nebraska, Craig came to the 49ers as a fullback. Head coach Bill Walsh would utilize him as a tailback in a move that would pay huge dividends. While quarterback Joe Montana would be named Super Bowl 19 MVP, it was Craig who would run over the Dolphins’ defense for three total touchdowns in the game. The following season would be Craig’s finest, as he would become the first running back in NFL history to record a thousand yards in rushing and receiving in the same season. Craig would go on to win two more championships with the 49ers and would be named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1980s.

The wait has been long and the result far overdue for Craig, as well as most of the 49ers Faithful. The release of the video of 49er legend Ronnie Lott knocking on Craig’s front door to deliver the news of his enshrinement is one that many feared would not come but would stir emotions for anyone that had the privilege to watch both men fight for championships. As the years passed, the thought that Craig could be permanently shut out of Canton seemingly was becoming more real but despite the seemingly flawed voting process, the voters did finally get this right.

Ironically, Craig’s election comes 33 years after he hung up his cleats, but come August, Craig will finally high step his way to join his fellow 49er brothers as he will be enshrined into football immortality and will be able to finally put on his gold jacket and unveil his bust to the world.

The 49ers traveled across the country for a matchup with the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles and came out with a gut check 23-19 victory that saw many highs and a few lows. What stood out in the 49ers victory that will send them to Seattle next week?

Hot:

Demarcus Robinson

Apparently Dearcus Robinson is making a habit of having big post season games against the Eagles. Last year he helped the Rams push the Eagles to the limit, and again this year, Robinson was Brock Purdy’s most effective weapon. Six catches for 111 yards and a touchdown was an incredible performance, certainly Robinson’s best outing of the season. Robinson drew a perfect quarterback rating when targeted on the night.

JUUUUUICE!!!!

When George Kittle left the game, Kyle Juszczyk stepped up in a massive way. While four catches for 49 yards may not appear to be much on a stat sheet, the effort that came with them and the moments they came in couldn’t have been bigger. His long catch of the night was a 27 yarder that set up the go ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. The 49ers have no shortage of leadership in their locker room, and Juice showed why he has consistently been named team captain on Sunday.

Jauan Jennings

In what appeared to be an exact replay of Jennings Super Bowl touchdown pass, Jennings threw an absolute dime on an end around pass for 29 yards to Christian McCaffrey for the 49ers go ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. Along with his lone catch of 45 yards in the second quarter, Jennings’ few plays provided big highlights.

Christian McCaffrey

McCaffrey was again the bell cow of the 49ers offense with 48 rushing yards and another 66 yards through the air. Along with his catch from Jennings, CMC’s four yard touchdown on a textbook “Texas” rout would put the final score on the board and would be enough to hold off the Eagles.

Robert Saleh’s young (and new) defenders

If you said you weren’t worried about the 49ers having to start two linebackers that had only been with the team for a handful of weeks, you were probably lying to yourself. But then they played a solid and pretty disciplined game. Eric Kendricks and Garrett Wallow were sound in their game play while combining for 21 tackles, with Kendricks making a handful of plays to seal the win for the Niners. Marques Sigle saw a return to the field in place of Ji’Ayir Brown when he was injured. Sigle’s highlight was a tackle of Eagles receiver Devonte Smith while one on one in the open field.

Lukewarm

Brock Purdy

Purdy’s night was bookended by great drives that resulted in touchdowns. His opening drive was about as crisp as he has been all year, and the last drive of 66 yards was the game sealer. In the middle got a little hairy though. Two interceptions to Eagles CB Quinyon Mitchell put the team in tough spots, but the defense was able to mitigate any damage. A potential scoring drive just before the half was ended after a Purdy fumble, also caused by Mitchell, that went out of bounds and resulted in a ten second runoff that would end the half.

Cold

Another devastating injury

It wouldn’t be a 49ers game if there wasn’t some form of heartbreaking injury. This time it would be the heart and soul of the offense in TE George Kittle as he would tear his Achilles early in the second quarter, ending his season and possibly putting next season in jeopardy. Thankfully, Jed York brought the tequila to the locker room to wash away the pain.

The 49ers offense will have to start fast against an Eagles defense led by DC Vic Fangio. Historically Kyle Shanahan has struggled to put up points against Fangio, but the 49ers will look to get their offense back on track after a rough outing against Seattle, hoping to get back to the offensive output they were able to produce against Indianapolis and Chicago in weeks 16 and 17. Defensively the 49ers will look to force Eagles QB Jalen Hurts to stay in the pocket and win with his arm while hopefully avoiding Hurts extending plays with his legs.

A win for the 49ers will give them another shot next week at the Seahawks after the Green Bay Packers second half collapse against Chicago on Saturday night.

Injury Report

The good news for the 49ers is that All=Pro LT Trent Williams is set to return to action from his hamstring injury. The bad news is that WR Ricky Pearsall is considered a game time decision after his PCL reaggravation. Even worse news is that the defense, linebackers specifically, have been decimated by injuries this week.

49ers

LT Trent Williams (Hamstring)

LB Luke Gifford (Quadricep)

WR Ricky Pearsall (PCL)

DL Keion White (Groin)

DE Yetur Gross-Matos (Knee)

CB Renardo Green (Ankle)

LB Dee Winters (Ankle)

Eagles

T Lane Johnson

Matchups to Watch

1. Saquon Barkley vs 49ers Defensive line

For the 49ers defense, the top priority will be to slow Barkley. With defensive line and linebackers thin with injuries, the 49ers will have to play disciplined and maintain their assignments and gap integrity in order to force the Eagles to throw. Preventing explosive run plays will be paramount for a 49er defense that was unable to do so against Seattle a week ago.

2. Jalen Hurts vs 49ers Pass Rush

Typically, you would want the 49ers front to collect sacks on the opposing quarterback, and while that is always welcomed, they have a more important focus this week. They cannot allow Hurts to move out of the pocket and freelance. The 49ers will have to make him uncomfortable and limit his running. The Eagles rank 28th in the league on third downs, and containing Hurts will be a massive part of the 49ers ability to capitalize on the stat.

3. George Kittle vs. Zack Baun

With the limitations the 49ers could face if Pearsall doesn’t play, Kittle will have to be a focus of the offensive gameplan. Baun has been a revelation for the Eagles over the past two seasons and will look to lock up Kittle in the middle of the field. If Kittle, or even Jake Tonges, can contribute to the passing game, it should create more opportunities for the rest of the 49ers receiving corps.

The 49ers Win, IF…

Starting fast on offense will be critical this week for the 49ers. If Christian McCaffrey can get going early and Purdy finds a rhythm, the 49ers can gain early control of the game. Taking the crowd out of the game will only help the 49ers find success on offense. Controlling the clock and keeping the defense off of the field will be extremely beneficial to the 49er’s chances of winning.

The Eagles Win, IF…

The key for the Eagles offense will be to find success in the run game with Barkley on offense to open up the downfield passing attack with Devonte Smith and AJ Brown. Should Jalen Carter and the Eagles defensive line be able to affect Purdy with consistency, it could make for another long day for the 49ers offense.

Final Thoughts, Spread, and Prediction

The Eagles opened as home favorites, and the line has continued to support that as they are currently six-point favorites. While Las Vegas favors Philly, the 49ers have been playing with house money for weeks now, and I expect that Brock Purdy and the Niners offense will regain their identity after last week’s poor showing. Purdy will finish the game this time and will lead this Niners team to a rubber match next week with the Seahawks.

Prediction: 49ers 27, Eagles 16

When the 2025 NFL season kicked off, Shanahan’s odds at the coveted award sat at +2800. He has surged his way into the conversation after rattling off six straight wins. The 49ers, as a team, per Yahoo Sports, sat at 20-1 odds to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, and that number has since skyrocketed to fourth in the whole league with +800. Typical winners are coaches whose teams make drastic jumps in the Super Bowl odds. Typically, signals of a great season.

NFL

Unfortunately, San Francisco’s Week 18 loss to Seattle all but killed his legit chances a winning the award, falling from +185 to +4000. A bit of a drastic fall for being so close previously, but that’s the way award season goes. Still, that shouldn’t diminish a legitimate case.

When looking at Shanahan’s body of work this season, it’s clear his name deserves serious consideration. The 49ers sit in the NFC’s 6th seed, tied for the second-best record in the league, and have clinched a playoff berth.

The 49ers are a young team that was supposed to rely heavily on their veteran leadership this season. Their team captains for the 2025 season have missed over 35 games combined this year. This does not include the other slew of injuries role players have missed time with, such as Bryce Huff, Jauan Jennings, and Malik Mustapha. The team sits in the top ten of weeks missed due to injury by players in the league. This does not even mention the caliber of players missing, like Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Brock Purdy, and George Kittle.

@mattfraser_9

While injuries have been a plague on the 49ers’ year, Shanahan also masterfully navigated the Brandon Aiyuk saga. The news of their top-paid wide receiver quitting on the team hit right in a critical stretch for the team. The 49ers did not skip a beat with all the outside noise, and that is a huge credit to the head coach.

Shanahan has had several seasons in which an argument could be made that he could have been Coach of the Year. Most notably, the 2019 season, when he turned a four-win team into a 13-3 conference championship team, or in 2022, when he found a way to produce and make a run to the NFC Championship game with three different quarterbacks.

We’ll see how far the 49ers can make it this year, but in years past a team this injury only limped to the top of the draft. With all things considered, Kyle Shanahan’s coaching prowess in 2025 is one of the more impressive accomplishments any coach has had this year. Even if he doesn’t win the award, he’s proved to be one of the league’s elite and very best.

Coming off of a six-game win streak, the 49ers welcomed the Seattle Seahawks to Levi’s Stadium for a showdown for the NFC West crown. After weeks of offensive explosions, the Seahawks smothered Brock Purdy and company in a dismal 13-3 loss. What was good? Who was bad? Where did it go sideways? Let’s dive in and take a look.

Hot:

Travel Plans

With the NFC West and home field advantage on the line, the 49ers were manhandled by the Seahawks, pushing them down to the sixth seed in the NFC. After Sunday’s games concluded, the 49ers, and the traveling road show that is the Faithful, will be headed to Philadelphia for a Wild Card matchup with the Eagles. While the Niners will be looking for playoff redemption for the 2023 NFC Championship Game loss. While there is plenty of history and cheesesteaks to take in while in Philly, the Faithful must remember one thing: Leave the Rocky statue alone.

The Warner Family

Fred Warner has been a staple at home games since his injury, but was noticeably absent on Saturday night, and for good reason. Video was posted after the game of Warner watching the game from a maternity ward while awaiting the birth of his second child. Congratulations to the Warner family!

Lukewarm

Playoff Redemption

While staying at home was the ideal path for the playoffs, it simply was not in the cards. The 49ers now have an opportunity for a little redemption against an Eagles team that beat them three years ago in the NFC Championship game while taking out Brock Purdy in the process. A win on Sunday would go a long way to erase that memory and would set up a possible second redemption shot the following week with a trip to Seattle.

Cold

Third and Seventeen

Early in the fourth quarter with Seattle facing a third and 17, the 49ers had an opportunity to flip the momentum and climb back in the game. And then the defense allowed Kenneth Walker to convert for a first down with a 19-yard run that was a back breaker for a defense that was struggling to slow the Seahawks rushing attack. ESPN cameras captured GM John Lynch’s reaction to the play, which had to be comparable to 49ers fan watching.

49ers run game

Over the past few weeks, the 49ers run game had seemingly gotten back on track. On Saturday, whether due to play calling or effectiveness, the run game just could not get going. The 49ers only attempted 12 attempts for just 53 yards. Two of the attempts were scrambles from Purdy that gained 21 yards and significantly improved the average yards per carry.

Tackling

While seemingly a fundamental part of the game, the 49ers have been struggling to make tackles and that could have been more on display than against Seattle. The lone touchdown of the game was due to a poor angle by safety Ji’Ayir Brown, and an even worse effort to secure the edge. Dee Winters struggled all night prior to leaving the game with an injury to bring any Seahawks offensive player to a stop.

Offensive Line play

When Trent Williams was announced as out, there was plenty of uncertainty as to how Austin Pleasants and the rest of the offensive line would hold up. The concerns were quickly, and repeatedly, confirmed as the Seattle defensive front harassed and battered Purdy all night. This culminated as Purdy was doubled over late in the game and struggled to get up.

Rivalry Uniforms

Aesthetically, the rivalry uniforms looked good, but they did not give the expected “49ers” vibe that should be expected when playing in a big game on national television. A gimmicky uniform belongs in a meaningless week 9 game against an out of conference opponent, not in what would be a divisional championship game. Factoring in the end result, those uniforms should be locked away for quite a while.

Black should be reserved for the Raiders and the weekly mourning process that their fans have to endure.

It does not get bigger than this ladies and gentlemen. The Seattle Seahawks are coming to Levi’s to face the red hot San Francisco 49ers. Both sides are wearing it as the toll of a hard fought season adds up, but make no mistake: Saturday will be an absolute banger. Let’s turbo charge this thing with some added degeneracy (All bets via @DKSportsbook):

Season Record: 39-20-1

AJ Barner O 38.5 Receiving Yards (-114): Both the Colston Loveland receiving and receptions props given out last week hit, and we get another reasonable figure here with Barner. Barner may not be the most flashy TE in the NFL but he’s been a consistent and reliable target of Sam Darnold’s all season long.

With coverage almost certain to roll toward their alpha WR, and Robert Saleh’s penchant for blitzing, there should be plenty of short work available for the Seattle TE’s and RB’s in week 18.

Zach Charbonnet Anytime Touchdown (+115): We bet on the Bears short yardage back last week to score and came up short(D’andre Swift scored twice in the redzone sadly). While risky, we’re going back to the well once more. Fresh off a two score game in Carolina the man is on fire, and this rushing defense is ripe for the picking. It feels like outside of Jaxon Smith-Njiba, Charbs is the most likely Seahawks to score, and it’s paying out 2:1.

Kenneth Walker O 12.5 Receiving Yards (-111): Walker has quietly developed into one of the league’s more efficient receiving backs, and he gets a juicy matchup against the defense allowing the 11th most receiving yards to the position. This figure is way, way too low.

If you’re feeling frisky and want a same game parlay this with the over 1.5 receptions you would get an excellent plus money value of +202!

Christian McCaffrey O 47.5 Receiving Yards (-114): We’re breaking out ol’ reliable for the final game of the season. The 49ers aren’t the only defense in this game that’s vulnerable to backfield receptions.

With the return of the apt to scramble QB in Purdy, McCaffrey’s receiving usage has declined slightly over the last month. However, the weather is rough, downfield passing will be at a premium. The Seahawks allow the seventh most receiving yards per game to RB’s in 2025, I love CMC for a big one here.

If you want to parlay this with the receptions over(5.5), a same game parlay would pay out +220, and I love that too.

Total Field Goals Made O 3.5 (-125): Bad weather, two offenses on fire, and an elite defense designed to counter the Shanahan offensive scheme… Ya, we’re going to go ahead and take the over for field goals kicked in the game at a reasonable 3.5. Between both Jason Myers and Eddie Pineiro, this feels like free money.

It’s been an honor and privilege serving in the trenches with all of you for the regular season, let’s finish strong and gear up for the playoffs. Go Niners! Enjoy the game everyone.