San Francisco 49ers News

Three-time first-team All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams and the San Francisco 49ers have agreed to a two-year, $50 million extension that will keep him under contract through the 2027 season. Making 18 starts across the 2025 regular season and playoffs, all at 37 years old, Williams was still one of the most dominant blockers in the league, finishing the year with his twelfth Pro Bowl selection while being named a second-team All-Pro. The deal does not necessarily preclude San Francisco from using an early pick at the position in this week's NFL Draft, as Williams will turn 38 before the start of his 16th professional season, and the depth behind him is serviceable but thin.

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Renardo Green could be on the trade block this offseason, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. General manager John Lynch has said that the organization isn't actively looking to trade Green, but if the right offer comes along, it wouldn't be a surprise if he's dealt after being seen arguing with head coach Kyle Shanahan multiple times on the sideline in 2025. Interested NFL teams could be looking to buy low on the 25-year-old defensive back, who was taken in the second round (64th overall) by the Niners in 2024 out of Florida State. Green had 61 tackles (41 solo), an interception, 13 pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 17 games (seven starts) in his rookie season before compiling 60 tackles (36 solo) and 10 pass breakups in 14 regular-season starts last year in a disappointing second season in the league. He missed the last couple of games in the regular season in 2025 due to an ankle injury, but he's on track to be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign this fall.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is coming off the third RB1 fantasy finish of his career despite putting up some of his lowest efficiency numbers since entering the league. His 413 touches in 2025 marked a career-high, while his 5.1 yards per touch were the lowest since 2020, a season in which he only played three games. This was McCaffrey's third time finishing a season with more than 330 total touches, all three times culminating in an All-Pro selection, but in both previous instances, he missed significant time the following season. Only twice in four opportunities has he played more than four games following a 200+ touch campaign. While that sort of fragility might frighten some fantasy managers, the ceiling that he represents when given a full workload is unattainable by any other player in the league. 58 times in his career, McCaffrey has touched the ball at least 20 times in a game. Only once under such circumstances did he fail to record at least 100 yards or a touchdown. Unfortunately, that occurred in 2025, along with several other instances where he barely cleared the mark, further signaling a decline in efficiency. About to turn 30 years old, McCaffrey appears to have hit a crossroads where his continued fantasy greatness is reliant on a one-of-one workload, while that same workload could be his ultimate undoing were he to sustain another serious injury. He currently ranks as RotoBaller's dynasty RB10, but contending managers would be advised to ride him until the wheels fall off.

At 31 years old, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (knee) came into the 2025 season still in the conversation as a top-five dynasty tight end. Six games missed due to a hamstring injury and an unfortunate postseason Achilles tear that now threatens his availability for the start of the 2026 season have pushed him well down the rankings. However, even without the injuries, the emergence of rookie stars Colston Loveland, Tyler Warren, and Harold Fannin Jr. would have already had a hand in shaking up the rankings. The two factors working together may have created a perfect buy-low window for Kittle, who could now be viewed as undervalued as RotoBaller's dynasty TE13. Yes, he will be only eight months removed from his Achilles tear by the time the 49ers next play meaningful football, and he will turn 33 shortly after that, but he has not scored fewer than 10.6 fantasy points per game since his rookie season. For reference, over the past five seasons, the TE13 has averaged 8.0 Half-PPR points per game. While it could, and likely will, take Kittle time to get back up to speed, even 80% of the player he has historically been represents a smart dynasty buy for contenders with the surrounding roster strength to bank on a fantasy playoff appearance.

After three years in the league in which he never caught a single pass, San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges seemingly came out of nowhere in 2025 in relief of the injured George Kittle. Kittle missed parts of six games with an early-season hamstring injury, and in those games, the 2022 undrafted free agent averaged 4.2 receptions for 37.3 yards while scoring three touchdowns and ranking as the fantasy TE11. With Kittle tearing his Achilles in the team's Wild Card win over the Eagles, and his availability in doubt for the beginning of the 2026 season, Tonges is once again a must-roster player in dynasty leagues, and of particular importance to Kittle's managers. While his 8.8-point per game pace over the best six-game stretch of his career still falls well below anything Kittle has done since his 2017 rookie season, Tonges' usage around the goal line offers enough value to dynasty managers simply looking to stay afloat at the position through the opening stretch of the season. His current status as RotoBaller's dynasty TE34 reflects his lack of standalone value once Kittle returns to full health.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones is one of the more productive backups in the league, offering the ability to come off the bench and keep his team in the game. We saw Jones handle plenty of starter reps in 2025, as he started eight games last year with 2,151 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He even got onto the fringe of the fantasy radar by ranking as the overall QB16 from Week 2-10. However, as soon as Brock Purdy was healthy enough to play, the Niners turned to him and sent Jones to the bench. There was some speculation that Jones could be traded this offseason if the 49ers felt he was too valuable to leave on the bench. Nothing is stopping the Niners from making that deal now, but remaining with the team this deep in the offseason seems to be a pretty good sign that he'll stick around. Jones has upside when he gets onto the field, but given how difficult the roster crunch can be in fantasy football, managers don't need the former first-round pick clogging up their bench spots. He can be dropped to waivers in most formats.

The San Francisco 49ers have made it clear that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) won't be back with the team in 2026, but they are in no rush to get rid of him, according to The Athletic's Matt Barrows and Vic Tafur. If an NFL team is interested in Aiyuk's services and wants him in their building this spring to learn their offense, they can trade for him, but there's no reason for the Niners to do any other team a favor by handing Aiyuk over now for a draft pick. They may release him after the NFL draft at the end of April if they can't find a trade suitor by then, but they can also wait longer if they want to, as the 49ers don't owe Aiyuk anything until his option bonus is due on Sept. 1. The Washington Commanders seem like the logical destination because of general manager Adam Peters' familiarity with Aiyuk from his time in the Bay Area. Aiyuk was also teammates with Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels at Arizona State. The 28-year-old former first-rounder had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023, but he played in only seven games in 2024 before tearing his ACL, and he didn't play at all last year. There are questions about Aiyuk's motivation, making him a very risky option for NFL teams and fantasy managers going forward.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Christian Kirk will embark on the next chapter of his career in 2026. After spending time with the Cardinals, Jaguars, and Texans, Kirk is now headed to the 49ers on a one-year deal. He's currently projected as the No. 3 receiver behind Mike Evans and Ricky Pearsall after the team watched Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne depart in free agency. Kirk has produced a modest 55 catches, 618 yards, and two touchdowns across 21 games over the last two seasons. However, he showed that he's still capable of contributing at a high level with 144 yards in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. Landing in San Francisco is a great fit for Kirk. In the No. 3 role last year, Bourne had 37 catches and 551 yards (but just seven catches and 91 yards in games where both Pearsall and Jennings were healthy). Kirk might not have standalone value as the No. 3 receiver, but both Evans and Pearsall have significant injury histories; they combined to miss 17 games just last season. Therefore, we wouldn't be surprised to see Kirk jump to No. 2 on the depth chart at various points next season, propelling him to the WR3/flex tier.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy got a new weapon at his disposal this offseason after the team signed veteran wide receiver Mike Evans. While Evans saw his 12-year streak of 1,000-yard seasons come to an end in 2025, he's still a superstar pass-catcher and a clear upgrade over last year's de facto No. 1 receiver, Jauan Jennings. Purdy will now get to throw to a stacked group of players, including Evans, Ricky Pearsall, George Kittle (Achilles), and even Christian McCaffrey. The former seventh-round quarterback ultimately appeared in nine games last year, ranking as the QB24 with 2,167 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Extrapolated over a full 17-game season, he would have set a new career-high in touchdowns (38), but also interceptions (19). The 26-year-old will look to clean up the turnovers while remaining an effective passer, especially around the goal line. He has top-10 fantasy upside for 2026 and is still a decent offseason target in dynasty leagues.

The San Francisco 49ers have said goodbye to free agent receiver Jauan Jennings, acknowledging that he won't be back in 2026. "He'll find a good home, and Jauan will go play great football for someone," general manager John Lynch told Vic Tafur of The Athletic. "I can't say enough for what that guy did; when that guy stepped between the lines, man, he was a presence, and they had to deal with him, and he won us a lot of games." Lynch noted that Mike Evans, the new No. 1 receiver in San Francisco, made more sense for the 49ers than Jennings because he is more of a "dynamic fit." Jennings, who remains a free agent heading into April, is coming off back-to-back top-34 finishes at the wide receiver position in fantasy football. Just last season, he caught 55 passes for 643 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns in 15 games. His 2026 fantasy outlook will depend on his landing spot, but he's probably a safe bet to finish among the top 36 fantasy receivers again next year.

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James, a fifth-round pick last year out of Oregon, appears to be the "front-runner" to be the top backup behind star Christian McCaffrey in 2026, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Brian Robinson Jr., who was CMC's primary backup in 2025, signed a one-year deal to join the Atlanta Falcons, leaving James, Isaac Guerendo, and Patrick Taylor Jr. as San Fran's options behind McCaffrey with the 2026 NFL draft looming next month. Head coach Kyle Shanahan noted that James was injured last summer and fell down the RB depth chart as a result, but his strong finish to the season makes him a candidate to back up McCaffrey to begin next season. The 22-year-old didn't have a single carry in three regular-season games in his rookie season, but he saw six rushing attempts for 28 yards in the playoff loss to the Seahawks. Given McCaffrey's lengthy injury history, if James sticks as San Fran's RB2 following the draft, he'll have plenty of fantasy value as a handcuff in single-year fantasy formats.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans went through a massive change of scenery this offseason. After 12 years in Tampa Bay, the veteran pass-catcher inked a new contract with the 49ers, pairing him with talented quarterback Brock Purdy. While it's not necessarily a major quarterback upgrade or downgrade for Evans, the change of scenery could be valuable for his NFL career and fantasy outlook. His role was slipping a little in Tampa Bay as Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. took on larger roles. In San Francisco, Evans will be the clear No. 1 receiver, with Ricky Pearsall not serving as too much of a threat. Staying healthy will be the biggest key for Evans, who missed nine games last year and finally saw his streak of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons come to an end. We would not be surprised to see Evans finish 2026 as a mid-to-high WR2, and he even has WR1 upside. Even at 32 years old, he's an intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues where his current manager is bothered by last year's injury issues.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall entered this offseason as a candidate for more targets with Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk both expected to depart. However, the 49ers' rather unexpected decision to sign Mike Evans has left Pearsall right back where he started this offseason: in the No. 2 receiver role. Operating in that same role last season, Pearsall caught 36 passes for 528 yards and zero touchdowns across nine games. He never played in more than four consecutive games due to injury, and he was held to fewer than five catches in two-thirds of his contests. All in all, Pearsall likely projects best as a No. 2 receiver, so we're not surprised to see that the 49ers signed a new No. 1. Still, it certainly limits Pearsall's floor and ceiling. Plus, it's not just Evans who will steal volume from Pearsall. Tight end George Kittle (Achilles) will fetch a boatload of targets when healthy, and running back Christian McCaffrey remains the centerpiece of this offense. There's not a lot of momentum behind Pearsall's name in dynasty fantasy football, so it's tough to sell high on him at this point. Managers are better off holding him and trading him at his peak value if Evans misses time due to injury.

It has felt inevitable for a while that the San Francisco 49ers would trade or release disgruntled wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) this offseason. However, owner Jed York said at the owners' meetings on Monday that he would "like to see him play for us," when referring to Aiyuk. The 28-year-old former first-rounder in 2020 out of Arizona State had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023 and 15 total touchdowns before signing a four-year, $120 million contract with the Niners in August of 2024. Aiyuk played in only seven games that year before suffering a season-ending torn ACL. He did not play at all in 2025 and reportedly stopped showing up to the team's facilities for his rehab, which led to the 49ers voiding the guaranteed money left on his deal last year. It's still more likely that Aiyuk won't be playing in the Bay Area in 2026, and he'll be a huge question mark for fantasy managers after such a long layoff.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan hinted that the team might try to give star running back Christian McCaffrey more breathers in 2026 to keep him healthy and fresh, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. McCaffrey was the overall RB1 in fantasy football scoring in 2025 and is coming off a career-high 413 touches. The four-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro will turn 30 this summer, and although CMC is a game-changer when he's on the field, the Niners are being mindful about his workload, especially when considering his lengthy injury history in his nine years in the NFL. "I know that I don't want Christian to have to take all of that. It was amazing that he did and was able to do that. The reason it's so hard to get Christian out is because of how much he affects everything in the pass game, even when he's not getting the ball... But in order for us to be the running team we want to be, in order to have Christian be as good as he can be throughout the whole year, we've got to get someone to help him," Shanahan said. Even with a potential reduction in touches in 2026, McCaffrey will be a no-doubt RB1 target in the first round of fantasy drafts this fall.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that the team is hoping that they can get something in return for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee), according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Shanahan is unsure when a potential trade might take place, and he also said, "I know we're in no rush to do that." The 49ers are still holding out hope of trading the disgruntled and injured former first-rounder. Once they've exhausted all those avenues, they are eventually expected to release him after signing him to a four-year, $120 million contract in August of 2024. Aiyuk played in only seven games that year, catching 25 of his 47 targets for 374 yards and no touchdowns before suffering a season-ending torn ACL. The 28-year-old out of Arizona State didn't play at all in 2025. The Niners are expected to eventually release him with a post-June 1 designation, and the Commanders have been the most rumored landing spot for Aiyuk if/when he's released. Aiyuk had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in the Bay Area before his injury in 2024, making him a high-risk, high-reward player going into 2026 fantasy drafts.

A contract extension for San Francisco 49ers All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams could be imminent, according to general manager John Lynch. "I would say in the last week, it's kind of intensified," Lynch said at the NFL owners' meetings. "And feel like we're on the precipice of something good happening." There were several reports in the last month that the 49ers could end up trading or releasing Williams if they couldn't agree to terms on a new deal. Lynch hasn't qualified the negotiations with Williams' camp as contentious at all, but said the situation required "nuance" because of his age (37). Despite his age, the former first-rounder (fourth overall) by Washington in 2010 out of Oklahoma has been a 12-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro in his 15 years in the league. Williams is still a high-end left tackle, so locking him up for what will likely be his final contract in the NFL will be a big boost for quarterback Brock Purdy and the rest of head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense.

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch expects defensive lineman Mykel Williams (knee) to be back from his ACL tear for training camp this summer, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. However, Lynch acknowledged that Williams' recovery could take a little longer since he tore his ACL a month and a half into the season after pass-rusher Nick Bosa did. Williams also tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee in Week 9. The 21-year-old pass-rusher was the 11th overall pick last year out of Georgia. He played in nine games in his rookie campaign and had 20 tackles (11 solo), four tackles for loss, three QB hits, one sack, and a fumble recovery. We won't be surprised if the Niners play it very safe with Williams during training camp, but barring a setback, he will have a shot to be ready to play in Week 1 of the 2026 season.

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said that he expects defensive lineman Nick Bosa (knee) to be back from his ACL tear for training camp this summer, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. Bosa had surgery last September for a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 3. Since the injury occurred so early in the year in 2025, the 28-year-old All-Pro pass-rusher has a shot to be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season, depending on how he looks in training camp and the preseason. Getting Bosa back will be a massive boost to what was a totally banged-up defensive unit last year. The five-time Pro Bowler is a high-end IDP fantasy pass-rushing option when fully healthy, but he's high-risk, high-reward because of his lengthy injury history. Bosa led the league in sacks with 18.5 in 2022, and he has 64.5 sacks in his 85 games played over his seven NFL seasons. Twice in his career, though, Bosa has played in fewer than five games in a single season due to injuries.

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said that tight end George Kittle (Achilles) is doing "very good" in his recovery from a torn Achilles in the postseason and that the team is hopeful that he'll be ready to play in Week 1 of the 2026 season, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. Kittle will be managed carefully during training camp this summer, but "he's progressing at a good rate." The 32-year-old veteran tore his Achilles tendon in the team's Wild-Card round win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 11 and went under the knife a week later. Fantasy managers shouldn't take this as gospel that Kittle will be ready for the start of the regular season, as ESPN's Nick Wagoner reported over a month ago that the Pro Bowl tight end might not return until around Week 5. Kittle is a high-end TE1 option for fantasy managers when he's healthy, but the uncertainty around his injury going into 2026 will cause his price to drop. He finished as the TE11 in half-PPR scoring in 2025 with 57 catches for 628 yards and seven touchdowns in only 11 regular-season games played.