San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers enter 2026 as one of the league’s most fantasy-friendly offenses, with Brock Purdy still projecting as a strong QB1 value and Christian McCaffrey once again the engine of the attack. Recent fantasy previews continue to treat Purdy as a low-end No. 1 quarterback in one-QB leagues, while McCaffrey remains the clear first-round centerpiece despite the usual workload and health questions that come with him.

The biggest late-summer storyline is the running back room behind McCaffrey. San Francisco signed Khalil Herbert on August 20 and placed Patrick Taylor Jr. on injured reserve the same day, and the team has also cycled through other depth backs and camp bodies over the summer. That keeps McCaffrey’s handcuff situation fluid, but it also signals that the team wants experienced support, which matters in a system that has historically produced usable fantasy numbers from backup runners when injuries hit.

At receiver, the 49ers look more intriguing than they have in a while. The offseason additions of Mike Evans and Christian Kirk give Purdy a much deeper and more reliable passing tree, and that should raise the weekly floor for the entire passing game. Ricky Pearsall is another name to watch, but he was placed on injured reserve on August 1, so his early-season availability is in doubt and his fantasy stock should be treated cautiously until there is clearer recovery news.

Tight end is the one place to be patient, because George Kittle’s health is still a major variable after the Achilles issue from last season, even though the team has been hopeful about his Week 1 outlook. If Kittle is close to full speed, he still profiles as a difference-maker at a thin position, but if he is limited, the easiest way to attack this offense in fantasy is through McCaffrey, Purdy, and the receivers with stable roles. Overall, the 49ers remain a high-upside fantasy offense with enough recent personnel changes and injury watch items to make camp reports especially important right up to kickoff.