San Francisco 49ers

Brock Purdy→ his ranking

Purdy was a four-year starter at Iowa, throwing for 12,170 yards with 81 touchdowns and 33 interceptions across 48 games. He also contributed on the ground with 365 carries for 1,177 yards and 19 scores. San Francisco took a chance on him in the seventh round in 2022.

Quarterback injuries thrust him into the starting role in Week 13 of his rookie season, and Purdy made the most of it — going 8-0, with 1,854 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. He completed 66.8% of his passes and averaged an impressive 8.4 yards per attempt. His playoff debut was his signature moment, throwing for 348 yards and four scores. The 49ers averaged 27.5 pass attempts per game with him under center. His storybook run ended in the postseason when he suffered an ACL injury to his right elbow, requiring surgery in February.

Purdy was back under center for Week 1 in 2023 and went 14-5 across 19 starts, including a Super Bowl appearance. Over 16 regular-season starts, he averaged 27.8 attempts per game and piled up 4,424 combined yards with 33 touchdowns, finishing seventh in quarterback scoring (351.50) in four-point passing touchdown formats before sitting out Week 18 for rest. His sharpest outings came in Week 11 (347/3) and Week 13 (323/4), and Purdy threw four touchdowns in two other games (252/4 and 242/4). He averaged 9.6 yards per attempt and generated 72 completions of at least 20 yards, with 14 reaching the 40-yard mark.

Injuries to Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk, combined with a down year from Deebo Samuel, created headwinds in 2024. His completion rate dipped to 65.9%, but Purdy kept finding chunk plays (8.5 yards per attempt, 12 completions of 40-plus yards). He also set new career bests on the ground (65/323/5), adding a dimension to his fantasy profile that hadn't been there before.

A right shoulder injury cost him Week 12, and an elbow issue kept him out of the finale. His pass volume climbed 8.3% to 30.3 attempts per game, while still ranking below the league average. Purdy was on pace for 4,379 passing yards and 23 touchdowns, the latter falling short of what his talent suggested. Five 300-yard games dotted the schedule (319/1, 353/2, 325/2, 313/2, and 377/3), and he topped 20 fantasy points in 60% of his starts, with a season-best 36.05 arriving in Week 17.

One week into 2025 (294 combined yards with two touchdowns), Purdy suffered toe and shoulder injuries, leading to eight missed games over the following nine weeks. Over his final nine games, he averaged 23.02 fantasy points per game in four-point passing touchdown formats. His best value came from Week 15 to Week 17 (339/3, 306/5, and 331/5), when league and overall championships were on the line. His completion rate (69.4%) graded well for the year due to Christian McCaffrey's (102/924/7 on 128 targets) command chain moving catches. No other receiver caught more than 57 passes.

Mac Jones→ his ranking

Jones hit the ground running in his rookie preseason, earning New England's starting job. He opened the year 2-4 while averaging 245 passing yards per game and totaling seven touchdowns against six interceptions. Jones then rattled off seven straight wins despite averaging fewer than 200 passing yards and just 24.7 attempts per game during that stretch. A freak weather game in Week 13 against Buffalo produced only three pass attempts, making it an outlier that skewed his numbers. He finished the year going 1-4 over his final five starts, including the playoffs, throwing eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in that span.

His 2022 season got off to a quiet start (213/1 and 252/1), before Jones put together his best showing of the year in Week 3 against Baltimore (321 yards, no touchdowns, five carries for 31 yards and a score, with eight completions of 20-plus yards). A high ankle sprain (suffered after his third interception in that game) cost him three weeks and effectively derailed his season. Over his final 10 starts, including the playoffs, Jones averaged just 221 passing yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions while managing only 6.4 yards per attempt. His lone standout performance came in Week 12 (382/2).

A thin receiving corps dragged Jones down again in 2023. He went 2-9 across 11 starts, with his only bright spot arriving in the opener (316/3). The final nine games were a grind (180.4 passing yards per game, seven touchdowns, and 11 interceptions) before New England pulled the plug and benched him for the final six games of the year.

Given a fresh start in Jacksonville after Trevor Lawrence went down, Jones made seven starts and went 2-5, throwing eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. His best day as a Jaguar came in Week 15 (323/2). His surface numbers are fine (a 65.3% completion rate looks respectable), but his 6.4 yards per attempt, which has shadowed him throughout his career, remains the more telling figure.

Jones proved to be a wise investment by the 49ers last year. He kept San Francisco’s playoff hopes alive by going 5-3 after Brock Purdy went down with an injury. His best success came in two matchups against the Rams (346/2 and 322/3). He passed for over 300 yards in one other game (360/0). His completion rate (69.6%) and yards per pass attempt (7.4) were the best of his career.

Christian McCaffrey→ his ranking

McCaffrey topped all running backs in PPR scoring in both 2018 (387.0) and 2019 (471.2). His 2019 campaign was historic (403 touches, 1,387 rushing yards, and 1,005 receiving yards), making him just the third player in NFL history to clear 1,000 yards in both categories in the same season. He surpassed 100 rushing yards in six of his first nine games before Carolina leaned on him as a receiver down the stretch (68/609/1), including three multi-catch explosions (11/121, 11/82, and 15/119). He reached double digits in receptions five times that year.

Injuries wiped out 13 weeks of his 2020 season (ankle, thigh, and shoulder issues each taking their turn). McCaffrey averaged 28.7 touches and 30.13 fantasy points per game when healthy. He managed to stay on the field for seven starts in 2021, producing 785 combined yards, two touchdowns, and 37 catches, but hamstring and ankle problems limited his workload (19.4 touches per game) and dragged his scoring down to 18.21 FPPG.

After losing 24 games across those two injury-plagued years, McCaffrey played a full season in 2022 and delivered 1,880 combined yards, 13 touchdowns, and 85 catches. Across his 13 full games, he averaged 19.5 touches and 22.34 FPPG, with his two biggest fantasy outputs arriving in Week 8 (40.60) and Week 17 (31.30).

His first complete season with the 49ers in 2023 was the second-best of his career (2,023 combined yards, 21 touchdowns, 67 catches, and 339 touches). McCaffrey maintained a floor of 18 touches in 15 of 16 starts (21.2 per game), rushed for over 100 yards eight times, and topped 100 combined yards in four additional outings. He finished 102.80 fantasy points ahead of the second-best running back in PPR formats, trailing only CeeDee Lamb (405.20) in overall scoring. Both of his signature games came against Arizona — Week 4 (29/106/3 rushing, 7/71/1 receiving) and Week 15 (18/115/1 rushing, 5/72/2 receiving).

The fantasy community got played in 2024. McCaffrey was a consensus top-five pick heading into the summer before a calf issue quietly became an Achilles problem, landing him on injured reserve to start the year. He returned after eight games but never found his footing (348 combined yards, no touchdowns, and 15 catches across four appearances on 65 touches) before a knee injury shut him down for good.

For fantasy drafters fading McCaffrey in 2025 due to getting beaten by him the previous year, they missed a great running back season. He gained 2,126 combined yards with 17 touchdowns and 102 catches on 413 touches, resulting in 416.60 PPR fantasy points. Over his first seven starts, the 49ers’ star back produced elite PPR fantasy points in each matchup (23.20, 22.70, 24.00, 26.10, 27.90, 24.10, and 39.10). He had a floor of 17.00 fantasy points in eight other matchups, with six resulting in impact value (34.30, 35.10, 27.20, 32.60, 28.10, and 29.40).

This draft season, McCaffrey is the third-ranked running back in the National Fantasy Football Championship (ADP of 7). Tough player to fade, so I would get a few shares for the game managers that draft multiple fantasy teams. When on the field, he checks the three boxes (scoring, consistency, and impact value) that are required to win championships. With 350 touches, 1,800 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 80 catches should be a reasonable outcome.

Jordan James→ his ranking

James carved out a larger role each season during his three years at Oregon, culminating in a 2024 campaign that saw him rack up 1,476 combined yards, 15 touchdowns, and 26 catches on 259 touches. A year earlier, he flashed more as a big-play threat out of a rotational role, averaging 7.1 yards per carry in 2023.

His athleticism numbers aren't going to turn heads. James ran a 4.55 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, which was below the threshold most teams look for at the position, and several other measurables fell short of the NFL average as well. His biggest area to clean up is his patience in the running game; he tends to hit gaps before they've fully developed rather than letting his blockers do their work. James’ value will come from running through contact and making defenders miss in open space. His pass protection is serviceable enough to keep him on the field in obvious passing situations, which opens the door to a three-down role if he continues to develop.

The 49ers had James on the field for only 17 plays last year, with his only touches coming in their final game (6/28 with one catch for seven yards) of the postseason.

Isaac Guerendo→ his ranking

Guerendo never got a real chance to carry the load at Wisconsin, totaling just 119 touches over five seasons for 706 combined yards, seven touchdowns, and 20 catches. Hamstring trouble and a foot injury ate into his availability across three of those years. A transfer to Louisville finally unlocked his opportunity, producing a breakout 2023 season (132 carries for 810 yards and 11 touchdowns, plus 22 catches for 234 yards).

San Francisco selected him in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. His 4.33 40-yard dash at the combine confirmed what the tape suggested — Guerendo’s a plus athlete who plays with physicality and intent. He's also a capable pass protector and a reliable target out of the backfield, giving him a well-rounded skill set that can grow further as long as he stays on the field. That last part is the key caveat.

Injuries to the 49ers' backfield gave Guerendo openings he wouldn't have otherwise seen as a rookie, and he made the most of them in four outings — 10/99, 102 combined yards with a touchdown and three catches, 15/78/2 with two catches for 50 yards, and 75 combined yards with four receptions. The problem is he also missed time with foot, hamstring, and knee issues, which is a familiar pattern given how often injuries derailed him in college. Health remains the defining question around his outlook.

San Francisco barely used an RB3 option last year, leading to Guerendo getting no snaps, with his only injury (shoulder) coming last August. His lack of chances was tied to Christian McCaffrey and Brian Robinson staying healthy all year.

Mike Evans→ his ranking

With Tom Brady under center, Tampa funneled 350 targets Evans's way over three seasons. He set new personal bests in touchdown catches in back-to-back years (13 in 2020 and 14 in 2021), before falling back to six scores in 2022. Interestingly, his target rate was actually higher across 62 games from 2015 to 2018 (9.6 per week) than it was over his first 47 starts with the Buccaneers (7.4 per week). His 2022 season was a study in feast or famine: two explosive outings (8/103/2 and 10/207/3) bookended an 11-week scoring drought, with only two other games worth mentioning (5/71/1 in Week 1 and 6/123 in Week 8).

The arrival of Baker Mayfield brought a steadier version of Evans in 2023. He held a fantasy floor of at least 10.00 points in 13 of 17 regular-season games, with his hottest stretch running from Week 10 through Week 13 (6/143/1, 5/43/1, 6/70/2, and 7/162/1). Evans closed the year with his second-highest receiving yard total (1,255) and rediscovered his scoring touch with 13 touchdowns. His 136 targets were his most since 2018, and Mayfield trusted him down the field — Evans averaged 15.9 yards per catch in response. Three more standout games added to the resume (Week 2 – 6/171/1, Week 16 – 7/86/2, and Week 20 – 8/147/1), and he finished seventh among wide receivers in PPR scoring (282.50).

2024 opened with Evans producing in spurts (26 catches on 45 targets for 335 yards and six touchdowns over the first seven games), with three bright spots (5/61/2, 8/94/1, and 5/62/2) mixed in. A hamstring injury then pulled him off the field for three games at the midpoint of the year. Mayfield carried him to the 1,000-yard mark over the final seven weeks (48/669/5 on 65 targets), with Evans delivering four games of eight-plus catches (8/118/1, 9/159/2, 8/97/2, and 9/89) and a strong playoff showing (7/92/1). He wrapped up the season 14th in PPR wide receiver scoring at 240.40 points.

Last year, Evans suited up for only eight games (30/368/3 on 62 targets) due to a hamstring injury and a broken collarbone. As a result, his 11-year streak with over 1,000 yards receiving came to an end. He played the best from Week 16 to Week 18 (6/132, 5/31/1, and 3/31/1) while averaging 9.3 targets over this span.

Evans moved to 21st all-time in receiving yards (13,052) and 10th in receiving touchdowns (108).

Ricky Pearsall→ his ranking

Across his final three college seasons split between Arizona State and Florida, Pearsall hauled in 146 of 217 targets for 2,206 yards and 13 touchdowns, chipping in as a ball carrier as well (17/219). His 15.1 yards per reception is an eye-catching number for a player most scouts projected as a slot receiver at the next level. His five best outings were spread across 2022 and 2023 (5/103/1, 5/148/1, 6/123/1, 10/166/1, and 7/103).

San Francisco valued him enough to spend the 31st overall pick on him in the 2024 draft. At the combine, Pearsall ran a 4.41 and put up 17 reps on the bench, a combination of speed and strength that fits what the 49ers want from their receivers. His route running translates well to the pro game, and his hands grade as assets. Pearsall’s area to watch is his release against physical corners at the line — if he can win that battle more consistently, his ability to carve up zone coverage could make him a real problem for defenses.

Pearsall’s rookie season never got off the ground. A shoulder injury wiped out his first six games, and he never fully seized a prominent role after returning, finishing with just 17 catches for 190 yards and one touchdown on 28 targets. Pearsall closed the year on an encouraging note, delivering back-to-back performances worth watching (8/147/1 and 6/69/1 on 18 combined targets) while earning WR3 and WR1 snap counts in those two matchups.

After three games in 2025, Pearsall gave the appearance of a draft-day steal (4/108, 4/56, and 8/117). Unfortunately, he missed nine of the 49ers’ final 16 matchups, leading to only two more games (6/96 and 5/85) of value. Pearsall failed to score all season while batting with a lingering right knee injury (PCL), followed by a late ankle issue.

Christian Kirk→ his ranking

Jacksonville handed Kirk an $84 million extension heading into 2022 despite him never finishing as a top-24 wide receiver in any prior season. He made them look smart, setting personal bests across the board (84 catches, 1,108 yards, eight touchdowns, and 133 targets). Kirk cracked 100 receiving yards three times (6/117, 9/105/2, and 6/104) and topped 20.00 fantasy points in five additional outings (6/78/2, 8/76/1, 6/99/1, 8/78/1, and 7/70/1), finishing 12th among wide receivers in PPR scoring (243.40).

A quiet opener in 2023 (1/9) gave way to an eight-game stretch where Kirk was Jacksonville's most reliable receiving option (48 catches for 615 yards and three touchdowns on 68 targets), averaging 8.5 looks per game while converting 70.6% of his opportunities. His three best performances in that run (11/110, 6/90/1, and 6/104) showed him operating as a legitimate WR2. The two weeks that followed were a step back, just seven combined catches for 137 yards on 13 targets, and then his season ended on his very first play in Week 13 with a groin injury. Projecting his first 11 games over a full 17-game schedule pointed to roughly 87 catches, 1,117 yards, and five touchdowns, a mid-tier WR2 baseline.

In 2024, Kirk never found his rhythm outside of back-to-back solid outings in Week 3 (8/79) and Week 4 (7/61/1). His other six appearances were a collective disappointment (12 catches for 239 yards and one touchdown on 25 targets). A broken collarbone then shut him down with nine games remaining on the schedule.

The Texans gave Kirk WR4 snaps (40.1%) last year while missing four games early in the year due to a lingering hamstring issue. His only fantasy value came in Week 12 (5/54/1) and Week 19 (8/144/1). Kirk had 25 catches for 205 yards and one touchdown across his other 13 games.

De’Zhaun Stribling→ his ranking

Stribling bounced through three programs on his way to the NFL. He built a solid foundation at Washington State across two seasons (44/471/5 and 51/602/5) before transferring to Oklahoma State, where a wrist injury cut his first year short after four games (14/198/1). He responded with his best statistical season the following year (52 catches for 882 yards and six touchdowns) at a blistering 17.0 yards per reception. His final college stop at Ole Miss produced another consistent campaign (55/811/6) in 2025. Over his college career, Stribling topped 100 receiving yards five times (7/174, 7/157/1, 7/101/1, 7/123/1, and 7/122), with four of those performances coming in 2024.

His combination of size (6'2", 205 lbs.) and speed (4.36) makes Stribling an intriguing prospect. His release off the line is a work in progress. He doesn't win immediately against press coverage, which means Stribling tends to be more effective when he has room to build into his routes over the deeper portions of the field.

Stribling’s a willing blocker on run plays, which should help keep him on the field in multiple situations. Once he gets into his stems, he attacks them with purpose and a burst. His area that needs the most refinement is his hands in traffic. Stribling needs to become a more reliable option on contested catches. When defenses do give him a clean look on a slant or seam, he has the tools to turn those opportunities into touchdowns.

George Kittle→ his ranking

Kittle opened 2022 on the sideline with a groin injury that cost him two games. Over his first 11 starts, he was solid but unspectacular (42 catches for 500 yards and four touchdowns on 59 targets). The switch to Brock Purdy at quarterback unlocked him down the stretch, with four strong closing weeks (4/93/2, 6/120/2, 4/23/1, and 4/29/2). Three other games stood out earlier in the year — Week 6 (8/83), Week 7 (6/98/1), and Week 11 (4/84/2).

San Francisco's offensive approach in 2023 turned Kittle into a boom-or-bust proposition. His seven productive outings were special (7/90, 3/67/3, 9/149, 3/116/1, 8/89/1, 7/126, and 4/81/1), but he failed to crack 8.00 fantasy points in nine starts, including the postseason, and drew four targets or fewer in 11 of his 19 appearances. His inconsistency was real, yet Kittle still managed to finish fifth among tight ends in PPR scoring (203.20).

Despite missing two more games (this time with foot and hamstring problems), Kittle cleared 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth time in his career in 2024. His touchdown production was front-loaded, scoring all eight of his touchdowns between Week 2 and Week 12 across eight games, with five performances topping 20.00 fantasy points over that span (7/76/1, 8/64/1, 5/58/2, 6/128/1, and 6/82/1). He then closed the year on a tear, surpassing 100 receiving yards in three of his final five games (6/151, 8/106, and 8/112). Kittle ranked seventh at the tight end position in targets but climbed to third in fantasy scoring (236.60).

Over the first seven games in 2025, Kittle missed five starts with a hamstring injury, catching only four passes for 25 yards and one touchdown in his two matchups. His production aligned with his career path across his next eight games (48/574/6 on 56 targets – 17.64 PPR fantasy points). Unfortunately, a late-season ankle issue turned into an Achilles injury that required surgery in January.

He's missed 22 weeks over the last six years. Over his past 109 games, Kittle averaged 5.1 catches for 69 yards and 0.46 touchdowns per game (14.76 FPPG).

Eddy Pineiro

Pineiro comes off his best year in the NFL. He made 28 of his 29 field attempts (96.6%), with his only miss coming from 50 yards or more (6-for-7). Over the past four seasons, Pineiro sent 90.8% of his 119 field goal tries through the uprights. On the downside, his extra point success rate (91.2%) was elite. He’s made 17 of his 21 chances from long range.