San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers announced on Monday that they activated rookie first-round wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (hamstring) from the Non-Football Injury list. Pearsall was working out on the side at training camp practice at the end of last week and will now be able to join the rest of his teammates as he prepares for his first NFL season in 2024. Many considered the 23-year-old to be a reach at the tail end of the first round in April, but his excellent route-running skills make him an attractive dynasty/keeper stash in Kyle Shanahan's offense. Pearsall probably isn't going to have a huge role this year as long as Brandon Aiyuk sticks around, but that could change as soon as 2025. Unless Aiyuk is traded or Deebo Samuel is injured, Pearsall can probably open the year on the waiver wire in standard 12-team fantasy leagues.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan reported that Saturday brought no news on the team's star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's current hold-in. Shanahan also stated there was no update on Trent Williams' holdout. Aiyuk requested a trade earlier this month and is lobbying his team for a new deal. He reported to training camp on time but is not practicing until his contract situation is resolved. The fifth-year wideout was integral to the 49ers' run last season as he enjoyed his full-on breakout. It is possible that Aiyuk will be traded according to his request, but San Francisco has drawn these situations out in the past, and he likely plays this year in 49ers red. Regardless of where he plays, the Arizona State product has cemented himself as an upper-echelon receiver for fantasy. He's currently the WR16 in NFFC ADP (29th overall), and that's a good spot for him in drafts despite the hold-in.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy won't be satisfied by just winning games this season. "I want to be dominant," said Purdy in an interview. "Not just win games and feel like, 'eh.' I want to be dominant with the consistent decisions and feeling like we're the top dogs every day." The signal-caller finished the 2023-24 campaign by throwing for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 picks. Unlike last offseason, Purdy won't be rehabbing from elbow surgery, and with plenty of weapons in his arsenal, he might accomplish his goal of dominating opposing defenses in 2024-25.

San Francisco 49ers rookie first-round wide receiver Ricky Pearsall's (hamstring) work on the side at training camp has progressed to route-running at what looks to be full speed. Pearsall looks on track to return to training camp practice next week after opening camp on the Non-Football Injury list. Barring a setback, the 23-year-old should be ready in plenty of time for the Week 1 regular-season opener, although he'll most likely struggle for consistent playing time in his first year in the NFL if the 49ers don't trade disgruntled wideout Brandon Aiyuk. Pearsall was a surprise first-round selection at the end of Round 1 back in April, and his production didn't exactly stand out in college at Arizona State and Florida. Although he isn't much of a redraft fantasy target in 2024, Pearsall has an intriguing long-term outlook in San Fran and should take on a starting role as early as 2025.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. looked slimmer during spring drills than he had last year, and he appears to have lost even more weight for the start of training camp. "I think he looks great," head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the offense took its first snaps in 11-on-11 drills. "I thought he looked great in OTAs and minicamp. And I think he looks better today." The 49ers are practicing without two wideouts, Brandon Aiyuk and first-round pick Ricky Pearsall (hamstring), so Samuel's fantasy draft stock remains in a state of flux until a clearer picture emerges of how this receiving corps might look for the start of the regular season. The 28-year-old Pro Bowl wideout totaled 12 touchdowns in 15 appearances in 2023, placing second at his position in PPR fantasy points per route run (0.67) and first in fantasy points per target (2.74) over 89 targets, and he's being treated as a WR1 bet at his second-round ADP this summer.