2025 San Francisco 49ers Team Preview

The San Francisco 49ers underwent a significant offseason overhaul, marked by a strategic roster purge and a youth-focused rebuild following a disappointing 6-11 season. The team lost key contributors in free agency and traded WR Deebo Samuel to Washington. In the draft, GM John Lynch leveraged 11 picks, starting with DE Mykel Williams, DT Alfred Collins, and LB Nick Martin to bolster the defense, while adding depth at CB, WR, and RB. Robert Saleh's return as defensive coordinator signals a shift to a high-pressure scheme, but head coach Kyle Shanahan has work to do on offense.

A long-term extension is pending for QB Brock Purdy, who has outplayed his seventh-round billing. Purdy's numbers dipped in his second season as the starter, but injuries played a big part. He still ranked 12th in fantasy points per game and was cool under pressure. San Francisco projects to have the NFL's easiest schedule in 2025, which bodes well for Purdy's fantasy potential. He's a borderline QB1 that can be targeted late in drafts.

RB Christian McCaffrey remains an enigma. Few players have the ceiling that McCaffery offers, but the heavy usage he's endured has taken a toll. CMC was limited to four games last season and torpedoed most fantasy rosters that invested an early pick on his services. Supposedly healthy, that boom/bust potential remains in 2025. There is significant risk, so limited exposure. Isaac Guerendo and fifth-round Oregon rookie Jordan James are must-have late-round handcuffs.

The receiving room will look different with Samuel in DC and Brandon Aiyuk potentially missing time. Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL on October 20 and could be brought along slowly even if he's ready by Week 1. If that happens, Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall would be Shanahan's top wideouts. Jennings broke out last season with a 77/975/6 line good enough for a WR24 finish. He'll be in good position to be a quality middle-round target. Meanwhile, Pearsall ended his rookie campaign with two strong showings and looks like an appealing late-round sleeper to target. Demarcus Robinson, signed from the Rams, could also factor in early.

Uncertainty in the receiving corps will lead to an enhanced target share for TE George Kittle. Fantasy's TE3 last season, Kittle ranked 7th with 94 targets and 6th in target share (22 percent). An increase in looks would cement his place as the No. 3 fantasy option behind Brock Bowers and Trey McBride.

Fantasy Grade: B-

QB Brock Purdy, SF - Solid/Safe Pick

Although he finished as a QB1 in fantasy points per game, Brock Purdy took a step back as a passer in his third season. Purdy's completion rate, touchdowns, and deep-ball accuracy declined. Injuries played a part, both to Purdy and his supporting cast, but opposing defenses also figured him out. Purdy ranked 2nd versus zone coverage but 32nd against man- a trend that will have to be cleaned up in a Kyle Shanahan offense. Additionally, Deebo Samuel was traded, but the return of a healthy RB Christian McCaffrey should help. The extension looms, and Purdy has to take advantage of the league's easiest schedule in 2025.

RB Christian McCaffrey, SF - Gamble (high risk)

Fantasy managers who burned the 1.01 on Christian McCaffrey last season will undoubtedly shy away in 2025. But at some point, McCaffrey's league-winning upside will appeal to a manager willing to take the risk of him staying healthy-- something he's struggled to do since 2020. CMC is reportedly fully recovered from the Achilles and knee injuries that limited him to four games. A fully healthy McCaffrey still has elite upside in Kyle Shanahan's offense, but Isaac Guerendo and fifth-round Oregon rookie Jordan James could see more touches to keep McCaffrey healthy in his waning years.

RB Isaac Guerendo, SF - Fantasy Handcuff

Isaac Guerendo is a great example of a late-round pick with league-winning upside. Guerendo is the next man up behind the oft-injured Christian McCaffrey. In the four games that Guerendo received double-digit carries last season, he averaged 16.8 fantasy points per game. Despite seeing a stacked front at the highest rate of any RB, Guerendo ranked 6th with 5.8 yards per touch. He's an elite handcuff target to a player who has missed 37 games in the last five seasons.

WR Brandon Aiyuk, SF - Gamble (high risk)

Another star wideout coming off a major knee injury, we would move Brandon Aiyuk up 10-15 spots if we knew he would be healthy and in San Francisco's lineups for their season opener in Seattle. Aiyuk was having a pretty miserable 2024 campaign before the injury, but the trade of Deebo Samuel will free up more targets. Aiyuk had consecutive 1,000-plus yard seasons in 2022-2023 and is locked into the WR1 role in San Francisco. Consider him a risky WR4/5 target, but one worth reading for. No other wideout in this range of the draft has the WR2 potential that a healthy Aiyuk offers.

WR Jauan Jennings, SF - Solid/Safe Pick

In 2024, Jauan Jennings posted career-highs with 77 receptions, 975 yards, and six touchdowns, averaging 14.0 PPR points per game. His 2.45 yards per route run ranked 11th among WRs, showcasing efficiency. Jennings thrived as Brock Purdy's top target, earning an 8.5 targets-per-game average. With Brandon Aiyuk's recovery uncertain and Deebo Samuel traded, Jennings could lead the 49ers' receiving corps. Despite competition from George Kittle and Ricky Pearsall, his 32 percent target share signals strong fantasy upside.