San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (groin) is fully healthy for the start of the team's training camp on Tuesday. Kittle dropped to 214 pounds, a 30-pound loss, after his core muscle surgery because he wasn't able to work, but he's now back up to his playing weight of 240-243 pounds. While the 29-year-old star tight end tends to be boom-or-bust from a fantasy perspective, he still totaled 65 catches on 90 targets for 1,020 yards and six touchdowns overall across 16 appearances in San Fran in 2023 and remains one of the game's top-tier options at the position. If star wideout Brandon Aiyuk ultimately has his trade request satisfied ahead of the regular season, Kittle's floor would become more stable as more of an offensive focal point in the Niners' high-octane attack.
George Kittle Loses Significant Weight This Offseason
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle was rehabbing a fractured rib, issues with his shoulder and toe, and a core-muscle injury that required surgery this offseason. As a result, Kittle revealed that he lost almost 30 pounds after the Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, a significant blow to his typical 250-pound frame. "I couldn't lift," Kittle explained. "I couldn't do any upper body because of my shoulder and my rib, and I couldn't do lower [body] because of my core surgery. I didn't lift from the Super Bowl until like almost mid-March." However, Kittle remains confident going into the 2024 season and is recovered from surgery on his core. The 30-year-old led the NFL with 1,020 receiving yards in 16 regular-season games in 2023 and is still one of the high-end targets at the position in fantasy. However, with only 65 catches in an offense with many mouths to feed, his 2023 production may be his ceiling at this point in his career.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (groin) has recovered from core muscle surgery and was back on the field as a full participant at Tight End U on Tuesday, according to David Lombardi of The Athletic. The 30-year-old is coming off a huge campaign in which he was named a Pro Bowler and First Team All-Pro after totaling 65 catches, 1,020 yards, and six touchdowns in 2023. He's the undisputed No. 1 tight end in San Francisco and has also firmly cemented himself as one of Brock Purdy's favorite targets. Now fully healthy and ready for the 2024 campaign, Kittle finds himself in the high-end TE1 tier for fantasy football once again.
Both San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle and cornerback Charvarius Ward had core-muscle surgery this offseason and will be back, fully cleared, in time for training camp this summer, according to general manager John Lynch. It's worth noting, but for Kittle's sake, it's probably not going to have any effect on his 2024 fantasy value unless he suffers a setback during offseason training. The 30-year-old former fifth-round selection in 2017 out of Iowa has made the Pro Bowl in five of his seven NFL seasons and led all tight ends with 1,020 receiving yards in 16 regular-season games in 2023 while also catching 65 passes for six touchdowns on 90 targets. Despite undergoing offseason surgery, Kittle should be considered a no-doubt, top-five fantasy tight end this fall.
The San Francisco 49ers restructured the contract of tight end George Kittle on Friday to create close to $10 million in 2024 salary cap space. It's likely that the 49ers converted Kittle's base salary this year into bonus money to create the cap space. The 30-year-old former fifth-round pick by the team in 2017 out of Iowa has made the Pro Bowl five times in his first seven seasons and has been a big reason for the 49ers' success in recent year. In 16 regular-season games, Kittle caught 65 of his 90 targets for a league-high 1,020 receiving yards among tight ends and six touchdowns. He only caught two passes for four yards in the Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, but Kittle continues to be one of the top fantasy tight ends in the game.
George Kittle Ghosts Fantasy Players In Super Bowl LVIII
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle disappointed fantasy gamers in the team's 25-22 Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas on Sunday. Chiefs' defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and his squad silenced Kittle, limiting him to just two catches on three targets for four yards receiving. Though Kittle finished as the fifth-most productive tight end in half-PPR scoring this year, nights like this are to be expected. In five separate games this year, he failed to reach five points. The Super Bowl loss ends Kittle's season with a particularly painful whimper though, as he finished with fewer than 10 yards receiving for just the third time this season. Of course, you can't have a top-5 finish without great games as well, so he'll likely be a mid-level TE1 in fantasy drafts this fall as he tries to get to the Super Bowl for a third time.
George Kittle Takes Backseat To Kelce In Super Bowl Projections
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (toe) is off the injury report and should have ample opportunities to make his mark in Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas on Sunday. While Kittle only had three targets in the NFC Championship Game against Detroit, he was more involved the week prior versus Green Bay, drawing seven targets. During the regular season, while Kittle has had his share of week-winning games, Travis Kelce has been the more steady option, which led to Kelce's 11.5 Half-PPR points per game to Kittle's 10.7. Kittle is a fine option for fantasy gamers, but DFS players willing to spend for the top tight end will go with Kelce, who has been on fire as the focal point of KC's playoff passing attack. During the regular season, the Chiefs finished as the eighth toughest defense in half-PPR formats to tight ends. In the playoffs, they've continued their suppression by allowing an average of 4.3 receptions, 30.7 yards, and no touchdowns per game to the position. While Kittle may not have the safe floor of Kelce, fantasy gamers could do worse than save a few DFS dollars and hope Kittle has one of his signature YAC-monster games up his sleeve in Vegas.
George Kittle Limited Again Thursday, Will Be Good To Go
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (toe) was limited in practice again on Thursday, but head coach Kyle Shanahan reported that Kittle will be good to go for Sunday in Super Bowl LVIII to face the Kansas City Chiefs. The 30-year-old suffered a minor toe injury in the NFC Championship win over the Detroit Lions and didn't practice at all last week. However, the Niners were just giving their Pro Bowl tight end some extra rest and he's going to be just fine to play in the Super Bowl this Sunday. He shouldn't have any limitations against a strong Chiefs defense, and fantasy managers are hoping he's more involved in the passing attack after going quiet for his standards in the last contest. Kittle could easily bounce back against KC after leading all tight ends in receiving yards in the regular season.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (toe) was limited in the team's practice on Wednesday after not practicing at all last week. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he believes Kittle will be a full-go for Thursday's practice. The 30-year-old tight end suffered a minor toe injury in the NFC Championship win over the Detroit Lions and was considered day-to-day at the start of last week. He shouldn't be in danger at all of not being able to play in the Super Bowl this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Kittle led all tight ends with just over 1,000 receiving yards during the regular season and could play a key role as the Niners look to overcome a strong Chiefs defense in Super Bowl LVIII. KC's defense was vulnerable to the position to close out the regular season, so Kittle could find some success for DFS gamers.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (toe) missed a third straight day of practice this week on Friday but was not given an injury designation after the first week of preparation for Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Feb. 11. Kittle suffered a minor toe injury in the NFC Championship win over the Detroit Lions last Sunday and was considered day-to-day on Monday, but he told reporters he's not worried about his injury and he should return to the practice field next week. Even if the Super Bowl were being played this weekend, Kittle would likely play. The 30-year-old caught just two passes for 27 yards in the win over the Lions, but he led all tight ends with just over 1,000 yards during the regular season and had four catches for 81 yards and a touchdown in the Divisional Round win over the Packers. Kittle could easily rebound in the Super Bowl against a Chiefs defense that was vulnerable to opposing TEs late in the season.
