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Brandon Aiyuk Brandon Aiyuk Slow start continues Sunday
Sun, Sep 15, 2024, 5:12 PM
Aiyuk had four receptions (five targets) for 43 yards in Sunday's 23-17 loss to Minnesota.
Analysis: Aiyuk was limited to five targets for the second consecutive week but saw his production increase against the Vikings compared to last week's two-catch dud against the Jets. The star wideout's low involvement was foreshadowed by head coach Kyle Shanahan prior to Week 1 after Aiyuk missed the entirety of the preseason schedule while in search of a contract extension. Dual-threat superstar Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) was placed on injured reserve prior to Sunday's tilt and will be missing in action for at least the first six games of the season. Deebo Samuel (8/110/0) and George Kittle (7/76/1) have picked up the slack in the passing game while Aiyuk continues to reintegrate into the game plan. The 49ers have thrown just one touchdown pass through two games this season, so a Week 3 matchup against the Rams could be when we see Aiyuk break out of his early season slump. |
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George Kittle George Kittle Powers through for 7/76/1
Sun, Sep 15, 2024, 4:42 PM
Kittle (cramps) finished with seven receptions off of eight targets for 76 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Vikings.
Analysis: Kittle's fantasy managers suffered a scare in the second half of Sunday's loss when the star tight end was carted off the field while favoring his leg. Fortunately, he was only being treated for cramping and returned to the contest in short order. Kittle tacked on one more reception for 16 yards before the game's conclusion to confirm his restored health. The eccentric tight end carries a 11/116/1 receiving line into a Week 3 matchup against the Rams. |
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Deebo Samuel Deebo Samuel Nets 100 yards Sunday
Sun, Sep 15, 2024, 4:26 PM
Samuel had eight receptions on 10 targets for 110 yards while rushing twice for a loss of 10 yards in Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Vikings.
Analysis: Samuel had a rare negative day as a rusher after a broken play on San Francisco's final offensive drive resulted in a loss of nine yards for the multifaceted receiver. He still finished with his first 100-yard receiving game of the 2024 campaign after scoring his first touchdown on the ground against the Jets in Week 1. Fellow star wideout Brandon Aiyuk (4/43/0) has been coming along slowly after sitting out the entire preseason dealing with a contract dispute, allowing Samuel to shine as the team's No. 1 receiving option. The former was rewarded with a four-year, $120 million contract extension following his modified holdout this past offseason, and Samuel will be looking for a similar payday this upcoming offseason with strong production out of the gates. |
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Jordan Mason Jordan Mason Drops 20/100/1 line in second start
Sun, Sep 15, 2024, 4:01 PM
Mason took 20 carries for 100 yards and a rushing touchdown while bringing in his lone target for four yards in Sunday's 23-17 loss to Minnesota.
Analysis: Mason followed up his impressive Week 1 fantasy performance (28/147/1) with another game of 100-plus rushing yards and his second touchdown of the season. Savvy fantasy managers who snagged Mason when starter Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) and backup Elijah Mitchell (knee) were ruled out prior to last week's win over the Jets have been rewarded handsomely. What appeared to be a hot short-term add is beginning to look like an league-changing acquisition after the aforementioned CMC was placed on injured reserve prior to Sunday's defeat (Week 7 earliest potential return). Mitchell has been ruled out for the entire year, so Mason is set to occupy the lead role in Kyle Shanahan's vaunted zone-run offense for roughly the first half of the fantasy campaign. It would behoove GMs in all fantasy formats to make sure that the Georgia Tech product is not lingering on their league's waiver wire ahead of Sunday's tilt against the Rams. |
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Brock Purdy Brock Purdy Throws for over 300 yards in loss
Sun, Sep 15, 2024, 3:47 PM
Purdy completed 28 of his 36 passing attempts for 319 yards, one touchdown and one interception while rushing twice for 12 yards in Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Vikings.
Analysis: Purdy was charged with a second turnover in the form of a lost fumble in defeat. The 24-year-old's gaffes proved to be costly for both fantasy managers and the 49ers after the team lost by one score despite being favored in Sunday's road contest. Purdy was his usual sharp self in the pocket (78 completion percentage) outside of the pair of second-half turnovers Sunday. The star quarterback has a prime opportunity to get right against a rebuilding Rams defense next Sunday after a pair of pedestrian fantasy lines to kick off the 2024 campaign. |
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George Kittle George Kittle Back in Sunday's game
Sun, Sep 15, 2024, 2:28 PM
Kittle (cramps) returned to Sunday's contest in Minnesota, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: Kittle needed a cart to get to the locker room during the third quarter, at which point it was reported he was getting an IV due to cramping, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. Now that he's back in the game, Kittle will be looking to build upon a 6-70-1 line on seven targets. |
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George Kittle George Kittle Takes cart to locker room
Sun, Sep 15, 2024, 2:13 PM
Kittle (undisclosed) was carted to the locker room during Sunday's contest at Minnesota, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Kittle seemingly has a chance to return, as the CBS broadcast relayed that the tight end is getting an IV due to cramping, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic and Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. In the meantime, the 49ers will entrust TE duties to Eric Saubert and Jake Tonges. |
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Joshua Dobbs Joshua Dobbs Working as emergency QB again
Sun, Sep 15, 2024, 10:59 AM
Dobbs (coach's decision) will serve as San Francisco's emergency third quarterback Sunday versus the Vikings, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Analysis: It's the second consecutive week that Dobbs has been designated the 49ers' emergency QB, as Brandon Allen has emerged as the team's preferred choice to back up Brock Purdy. Dobbs will be able to enter Sunday's game only if both Purdy and Dobbs become unavailable due to injury or ejection. |
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Christian McCaffrey Christian McCaffrey Likely facing six-plus-week absence
Sun, Sep 15, 2024, 8:36 AM
McCaffrey (calf), who was placed on injured reserve Saturday, is "likely to be out six weeks or potentially more" while he recovers from Achilles tendinitis, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: McCaffrey's placement on IR ensures that he'll miss the 49ers' next four games, but Rapoport suggests that the team is preparing for the star tailback to miss additional time beyond that. The 28-year-old isn't helped by the fact that the 49ers will play a Thursday night game in Seattle in Week 6, the first game in which McCaffrey would be eligible to return from IR. While Rapoport notes that McCaffrey won't be at an elevated risk of tearing his Achilles once he eventually plays again, the running back's Achilles tendinitis is regarded as a painful injury that will require rest and rehab for him to properly heal. Jordan Mason played 81 percent of the 49ers' offensive snaps and took on 29 touches in a Week 1 win over the Jets, and he looks like he could be in line for a heavy workload for the duration of McCaffrey's absence. |
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Jordan Mason Jordan Mason Clear avenue to more carries
Sat, Sep 14, 2024, 12:41 PM
Mason's teammate Christian McCaffrey was placed on IR on Saturday due to an Achilles/calf injury.
Analysis: With Elijah Mitchell out for the season, the backfield might now continue to pretty much belong to Mason -- who had a 28-147-1 line in Week 1 -- until at least Oct. 10, the first date that McCaffrey is now eligible to return. Mason is probably long gone in almost every league by now, but all managers should at least take a peek to see if he's somehow still hiding on a waiver wire, Those who drafted him in a deep reserve round or spent some modest FAAB money ahead on him of Week 1 are now looking at a potential GameStop type of ROI on a modest investment. |
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Christian McCaffrey Christian McCaffrey Headed to IR
Sat, Sep 14, 2024, 12:26 PM
McCaffrey (Achilles/calf) will be placed on injured reserve Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: This move became a clear possibility when McCaffrey didn't practice Friday and was subsequently ruled out for Sunday's Week 2 contest versus Minnesota. McCaffrey will now be required to miss San Francisco's next four contests, thus his earliest return date is Oct. 10 versus Seattle on Thursday Night Football. Jordan Mason will continue to hold lead running back duties for the 49ers for as long as McCaffrey remains sidelined. |
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Ricky Pearsall Ricky Pearsall Back to working out
Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 6:39 PM
Coach Kyle Shanahan revealed Friday that Pearsall (chest/shoulder) resumed working out at the 49ers' facilities this week, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Pearsall suffered a gunshot wound during an attempted robbery on Aug. 31, but he was discharged from the hospital one day later before the 49ers placed him on the reserve/non-football injury list on Labor Day. Since then, it was revealed that the team expected the rookie first-round pick to return when first eligible Week 5, and getting back to working out, including in the weight room, is a decent sign that he's on track for such an outcome. For as long as Pearsall remains sidelined, Jauan Jennings will remain San Francisco's No. 3 WR behind starters Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. |
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Christian McCaffrey Christian McCaffrey Move to IR imminent?
Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 6:28 PM
The 49ers may place McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) on injured reserve Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: In order to start McCaffrey's four-game tally, at the very least, on IR, San Francisco can take that approach before Saturday's 4:00 p.m. ET deadline for such a transaction. He initially dealt with a calf strain throughout training camp and the preseason, but his situation was thrown into no-man's land when Achilles was attached to his name on the team's first Week 1 injury report last Thursday. There was no indication outside the 49ers' organization that McCaffrey was in danger of sitting out this past Monday against the Jets until inactives dropped before the game, and since then it was revealed he was tending to Achilles tendinitis, which requires rest to get past completely. With Jordan Mason faring well in McCaffrey's absence, the team seems poised to roll with the former out of the backfield in the short term, with the aim to get its star RB healthy with the second half of the season and playoffs in mind. |
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Jordan Mason Jordan Mason In line for more starts
Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 4:31 PM
Mason is slated to serve as the 49ers' No. 1 running back Sunday at Minnesota and beyond with the news that Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) is a candidate for injured reserve, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Coach Kyle Shanahan relayed Friday that San Francisco is considering an IR stint for McCaffrey due to the Achilles tendinitis that is plaguing him at the moment. Shanahan also noted that Thursday's practice was the worst for McCaffrey so far in terms of pain, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. The 49ers have yet to make a decision on McCaffrey past this weekend, but Mason at the very least will start Sunday on the heels of 29 touches for 152 yards from scrimmage and one rushing TD in the Week 1 win against the Jets. Meanwhile, Deebo Samuel figures to be in the backfield mix as well after handling eight carries Monday night. |
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Jauan Jennings Jauan Jennings Cleared for Week 2
Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 4:20 PM
Jennings (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game at Minnesota, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Jennings was listed with an ankle injury ahead of Week 1 and even made a brief exit from Monday's win over the Jets, but it didn't stop him from catching each of his five targets for a team-high 64 receiving yards. He played 47 percent of San Francisco's snaps on offense and ran a route on 56 percent of the pass plays, filling his usual role as the No. 3 receiver behind Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. It is possible Jennings benefits from a few extra snaps here and there if Samuel continues to get some work as a running back while Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) is out. |
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Christian McCaffrey Christian McCaffrey Out Sunday and maybe more
Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 4:06 PM
McCaffrey has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Minnesota, and the 49ers are considering placing him on injured reserve, which would sideline him through at least Week 5, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Jordan Mason enjoyed a breakout performance Week 1 against the Jets, taking 29 touches for 152 yards and a touchdown on 81 percent snap share, with wide receiver Deebo Samuel also picking up some of the backfield slack and tying his career high of eight carries. It sounds like that scenario could continue for several weeks, as coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Friday that Thursday was McCaffrey's worst day so far in terms of pain, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. It's been a rapid downward slide for McCaffrey and his fantasy managers, after most reports last week suggested he was on track to play in the season opener. He'll now miss a second straight game, at the very least. |
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Christian McCaffrey Christian McCaffrey Not spotted at Friday's practice
Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 2:53 PM
McCaffrey (Achilles) is not present at the portion of Friday's practice open to the media, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: McCaffrey logged limited sessions Wednesday and Thursday, but it appears his activity level may be in line to regress Friday. 49ers GM John Lynch said Friday morning that he was uncertain whether McCaffrey would be cleared to suit up Sunday against Minnesota on the road, and head coach Kyle Shanahan will address the media later this afternoon. Jordan Mason enjoyed a breakout performance Week 1 with McCaffrey sidelined, while wide receiver Deebo Samuel also was tasked to handle extra backfield slack and logged eight carries. |
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Christian McCaffrey Christian McCaffrey Uncertain for Week 2
Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 10:18 AM
49ers GM John Lynch said Friday morning that he doesn't know if McCaffrey (Achilles) will play Sunday at the Vikings, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: "Dealing with Achilles tendinitis, [it] could be good one day and then it flares," Lynch said. "Been frustrating. We're thinking in long view. We need Christian healthy, fully out there and don't want to compromise anything." Lynch's comments suggest McCaffrey is headed for another questionable designation, after being listed that way last week and ultimately missing Monday's win over the Jets. Jordan Mason filled in with 28 carries for 147 yards and a TD on an 81 percent snap share in the 32-19 victory, with WR Deebo Samuel also getting some snaps as a running back and matching his career high of eight carries. |
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Jauan Jennings Jauan Jennings Limited again Thursday
Thu, Sep 12, 2024, 6:04 PM
Jennings (ankle) practiced on a limited basis Thursday, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Analysis: With back-to-back capped sessions under his belt following the ankle injury that he sustained in the season opener against the Jets, Jennings has only one more chance to get back to full before potentially heading into the weekend with a designation for Sunday's contest at Minnesota. Assuming he's active Week 2, he'll continue to serve as the 49ers' No. 3 WR behind starters Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. |
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Christian McCaffrey Christian McCaffrey Another limited session
Thu, Sep 12, 2024, 5:58 PM
McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) remained limited at Thursday's practice, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Analysis: The waiting game continues for McCaffrey after he sat out Monday's win against the Jets due to a strained calf and Achilles tendinitis. The 49ers are more concerned about the second injury, but McCaffrey has looked like himself during the parts of recent practices open to the media. Still, even if he gets back to all activity Friday, McCaffrey seems like a good bet to enter the weekend with a designation for Sunday's game in Minnesota. If McCaffrey is inhibited or sidelined in that contest, Jordan Mason again would get the call at running back for the 49ers, with wide receiver Deebo Samuel also mixing in. |
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