San Francisco 49ers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall popped off with the best game of his young career during a 40-34 loss to the Detroit Lions at Levi's Stadium on Monday night. For the first time this season, Pearsall had quarterback Brock Purdy's eye throughout. The 24-year-old out of Florida finished with a co-team-high 10 targets and eight receptions for a team-leading 141 yards and a touchdown. He also took two carries for six yards. Pearsall flashed his first-round skills, including winning a strong-hand battle at the goal line against standout safety Brian Branch and a one-handed, toe-tapping tip and grab on the sideline. Anyone still playing meaningful fantasy football in Week 18 may be tempted to consider Pearsall as a FLEX option after his breakout game, but first should track the injury news of quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) going into the team's game on Sunday at the Arizona Cardinals.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings had a passable performance during the team's 40-34 loss to the Detroit Lions in Santa Clara on Sunday night. Jennings finished with seven receptions on 10 targets for 67 yards. While his final line was unspectacular, it was almost worse. Half of Jennings' targets and nearly half of his receptions and yards came on San Francisco's final drive with the team in desperation mode and down by two scores. It all counts the same for fantasy managers who needed only a halfway-decent showing in the final week of the fantasy season. Those who needed more from Jennings were certainly tearing their hair out watching rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall (8/141/1) eclipse Jennings throughout the night, for just the second time this year. Jennings will look to finish his breakout season on a high note when the 49ers travel to Arizona for a meaningless Week 18 contest.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (right elbow) likely avoided a serious injury during the fourth quarter of Monday's loss to the Detroit Lions. According to head coach Kyle Shanahan (via a post on X from ESPN's Nick Wagoner), Purdy likely just got hit in the wrong spot, which led to a nerve issue. Shanahan did note that the 49ers need to conduct further testing on Purdy, but the expectation is that he will be okay. It's still to early to tell whether Purdy, who totaled 377 passing yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions on Monday night, will play in Week 18. Next weekend's contest is essentially meaningless for the 49ers, who have already been eliminated from the playoffs and could opt to rest key starters, including Purdy. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for updates on the 49ers' plans over the next few days.

San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo had a useful fantasy day during a 40-34 loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday night. The former high school wide receiver took nine carries for just 34 yards but saved his day through the air by catching all four of his targets for 65 yards. With most fantasy leagues in the books after Monday night, it's fair to say that Guerendo comported himself well in his rookie season by flashing the speed, receiving chops, and scheme fit that caused the 49ers to trade up and select him in the fourth round. Guerendo figures to draw another start while vying for his fifth 10-plus-point half-PPR performance in Week 18's meaningless game in Arizona.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) had an excellent game -- at least for fantasy purposes-- during a 40-34 home loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday night. He was 27-of-35 for 377 yards and three touchdowns through the air, adding three carries for 12 yards and another touchdown on the ground. Purdy, who celebrated his 25th birthday this week, spread it around, tossing touchdowns to rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall, fullback Kyle Jusczcyk, and receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. on pop-pass reverse. Purdy's season-best, 30-plus point performance in fantasy included two crucial second-half interceptions that threw a wet blanket on his real-life football night. Adding injury to insult, Purdy was forced out of the game with a right-elbow injury in San Francisco's final garbage-time drive before backup Joshua Dobbs ran in the Niners' fifth touchdown of the night. Purdy -- if healthy -- will close out his third NFL season in a meaningless game in Arizona on Sunday in Week 18.