San Francisco 49ers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (chest, illness) was limited in practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week. If Pearsall cannot upgrade to full participation at Friday's practice, he could carry a questionable designation into the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. The first-rounder is coming off the best game of his rookie season in the Monday night loss to the Detroit Lions, when he set season-highs across the board in catches (eight), targets (10) and receiving yards (141) while catching his second touchdown of the year. There's a chance fellow wideout Deebo Samuel Sr. (ribs, wrist) doesn't play this weekend, which would thrust Pearsall into the WR2 role behind Jauan Jennings. However, with backup QB Joshua Dobbs getting the start, Pearsall would still be an unreliable, boom/bust WR4/5 in fantasy.

After being limited in practice on Wednesday, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (ankle, hamstring) upgraded to a full practice session on Thursday. Kittle is battling through multiple injuries with one final game left this year, but his ability to practice in full on Thursday means he should be able to gain clearance to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. Although the 31-year-old's fantasy value will take a hit if he plays this weekend with quarterback Joshua Dobbs getting the start over Brock Purdy (elbow), Kittle will still be in play as a TE1 for lineups as the top-scoring TE in half-PPR scoring this year thanks to catching 76 of his 91 targets for 1,079 yards and a league-high eight TDs. If Kittle plays, he figures to be Dobbs' favorite target, especially if receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (ribs, wrist) is held out.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) missed a second straight day of practice this week on Thursday after suffering a right-elbow injury at the end of the Sunday night loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 17. Although Purdy's injury is considered minor and he hasn't officially been ruled out yet, the Niners have already announced that backup Joshua Dobbs will get the start in a meaningless Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Expect the 25-year-old Purdy to be officially ruled out on Friday's final Week 18 injury report. If the former seventh-rounder has played his last game of the 2024 season, he'll finish with a career-low 65.9% completion percentage with 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 15 starts. It was a step back from his breakout in 2023, but Purdy was also missing key weapons on offense for most of the year due to injury.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (illness, chest) was limited in Wednesday's practice, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. The 49ers will conclude the season at Arizona in Week 18 in a meeting of two teams that have been eliminated from playoff contention. The rookie receiver is coming off his career-best game on Monday against Detroit, going for eight catches, 141 yards, and a touchdown, but the 49ers may be without quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) and a host of other players, too. Against a solid Cards pass defense, Pearsall is a major risk in DFS or fantasy formats that play Week 18.

According to Nick Wagoner of ESPN, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (ankle/hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status leading up to their final game of the season against the Arizona Cardinals. With the 49ers out of playoff contention, Kittle may face an uphill battle to clear protocol in order to suit up. On Monday evening, during their loss to the Detroit Lions, Kittle brought in all eight of his targets for 112 yards. This was his second-straight contest tallying at least 100 yards and the fourth time this season he has accomplished this feat. Since Week 12, he has averaged a strong 15.2 PPR points per game. Even though Joshua Dobbs will be under center on Sunday, Kittle remains a must-start tight end if he is cleared to play.