RADIO
Deebo Samuel Sr. Unlikely to Play in Week 9
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday, and head coach Kyle Shanahan said he would be surprised if the veteran could play against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 9. Samuel suffered the injury against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5 and missed the following two games before San Francisco's Week 8 bye. Shanahan said Samuel is making progress, but another absence appears likely. The 49ers are also dealing with Mike Evans' Achilles injury, which kept him out of Wednesday's practice, while Demarcus Robinson (ankle) returned on a limited basis. Samuel has recorded 16 receptions for 206 yards and three touchdowns, along with 78 rushing yards, across five games this season. San Francisco's receiving corps struggled to replace his production in Week 7, when George Kittle led the team with eight catches for 88 yards. With Samuel and Evans both uncertain for Sunday, the 49ers' remaining wide receivers carry considerable fantasy risk.
Source: Niners Nation - Kyle Posey
Source: Niners Nation - Kyle Posey
Kyle Shanahan says Mike Evans Progressing Well in Achilles Recovery
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (Achilles) did not practice on Wednesday, but 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that the veteran wideout has made "a lot of progress" in his recovery from a nagging Achilles injury, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner. After initially attempting to play through the injury, Evans was held out of the 49ers' Week 7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons before the team's Week 8 bye. Even after two weeks off, it appears as though Evans is still battling the ailment and could be at risk of missing San Francisco's Week 9 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. The 33-year-old has been extremely productive despite battling myriad injury issues throughout 2026, recording 27 catches for 420 yards and three touchdowns on 39 targets across six games. If he's able to return to the field on Sunday, Evans profiles as a must-start fantasy wide receiver against Las Vegas.
Source: ESPN - Nick Wagoner
Source: ESPN - Nick Wagoner
49ers Open Practice Window for Demarcus Robinson
The San Francisco 49ers have opened the practice window for wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (ankle), per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. Robinson has been on Injured Reserve since Week 2 due to an ankle injury, but it appears he could be on the doorstep of a return. Across two games before getting hurt, the 32-year-old recorded five catches for 84 yards and a touchdown on six targets. The 49ers have had myriad injuries across their wide receiver room so far in 2026. Even coming out of their Week 8 bye, top wideouts Mike Evans (Achilles) and Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) remained sidelined from practice and could be in danger of missing San Francisco's Week 9 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. In deeper leagues, Robinson could be worth targeting on the waiver wire ahead of his impending return.
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Matt Maiocco
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Matt Maiocco
Brandon Aiyuk Files to be Reinstated, Reporting to 49ers Facility Friday
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has filed for reinstatement and is prepared to report to the team's facility on Friday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Aiyuk has submitted his paperwork to the NFL to be reinstated after the 49ers placed him on the Reserve/Left Squad list. The wideout signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the team prior to the 2024 season but suffered a torn ACL that ended that season early. Aiyuk did not comply with rehabilitation requirements and left the facility. Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated that he would not return to the 49ers. If Aiyuk returns to the field, it's likely he would be released by the team and play elsewhere, including the Washington Commanders, for whom Aiyuk has publicly activated himself. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on this situation, though it's unclear how the process between Aiyuk and the 49ers will play out.
Source: Adam Schefter - ESPN
Source: Adam Schefter - ESPN
Jordan Watkins Worth a Speculative Add After Encouraging Usage
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jordan Watkins saw an uptick in usage in Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons before their Week 8 bye. With both Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel sidelined, Watkins played 75% of snaps, ran 30 routes, and saw six targets, catching three for 56 scoreless yards. He led the 49ers wide receivers in both targets and air yards (101 yards for a 34% share) against Atlanta. He is the definition of an explosive playmaker who has turned just six receptions on the season into 138 yards, an average of 23 yards per reception. But with both Evans and Samuel expected back in Week 9 against the Las Vegas Raiders, his fantasy appeal has dropped significantly and should only be stashed in deeper leagues where his value could once again skyrocket with any more injuries to the 49ers' receiving corps.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
De'Zhaun Stribling walking without crutches or brace on lower leg
San Francisco 49ers rookie second-round wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) was walking around without crutches or any sort of brace/support on his lower leg in the team's locker room on Monday, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Before Stribling could even be a fantasy asset for his managers to begin his rookie season, the 23-year-old from Ole Miss suffered a serious ankle injury in the Week 1 win over the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in Australia and was placed on Injured Reserve. Stribling appears to be making good progress, but there remains no timetable for his return. He created a lot of fantasy buzz in training camp and the preseason as a key weapon in San Francisco's passing attack, which makes him a stash candidate in deeper leagues if you have the room on your roster, especially when considering all the other injuries the Niners are dealing with at the position. Barring a setback, Stribling is expected to make his return to the team at some point in December. He is currently rostered in a quarter of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
Source: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
Brandon Aiyuk Close to Hiring New Reps in Bid to Return to NFL
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) is close to hiring new representatives in an effort to get back to the NFL and on a team, sources told Jordan Schultz. The 49ers still hold Aiyuk's rights, and Aiyuk needs to file for reinstatement after he was placed on the left-squad list last December. General manager John Lynch said all the way back in January that the 28-year-old former first-rounder from Arizona State would not play for the organization again, and that has not changed despite the 49ers dealing with the most banged-up receiving corps in the league through the first eight weeks of 2026. He has been completely off the fantasy football radar for that reason, and because we have no idea how healthy he is after he tore multiple ligaments in his right knee back in October of 2024, which caused him to miss the entire 2025 campaign. Aiyuk has reportedly been healthy, but his deteriorating relationship with the 49ers has not helped his cause as he tries to get back in the good graces of the league. Once he is reinstated by the NFL, the 49ers will be forced to either trade or release him so he can join another team. Aiyuk remains a complete wild card and is not guaranteed to play for the remainder of this season.
Source: Jordan Schultz
Source: Jordan Schultz
Time to Consider Stashing De'Zhaun Stribling in Redraft Leagues
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) is an intriguing player to stash ahead of his projected return from injured reserve in December. Stribling, who has been sidelined since after Week 1, will have WR3/flex potential when he gets back on the field, so it would make sense for fantasy managers to add him before his activation, rather than get involved in the mad waiver wire scramble once he gets activated. Projecting an exact role and volume for Stribling is a bit difficult because he has yet to catch a pass at the NFL level, but his involvement back in Week 1 before he got hurt was encouraging. The 23-year-old won't pass Mike Evans or Deebo Samuel Sr. on the depth chart, but it seemed like he was perfectly capable of coexisting alongside those two receivers in the 49ers' volume-heavy offense. Stribling should be stashed on the IR in 14+ team leagues for now, and managers in 12-team formats should get in on the action relatively soon, too.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Watkins Is a Stash-Only After Week 8 Bye
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jordan Watkins is a speculative stash in deeper leagues, not a priority add in standard 12-team formats, because the Week 8 bye arrives just as several injured receivers could return. He has played 76% of the offensive snaps in consecutive games and led San Francisco's wideouts with 50 offensive snaps in Sunday's 29-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, catching three of six targets for 56 yards, including a 35-yard gain. He also nearly scored a 23-yard touchdown before the catch was overturned following review. Still, his past two appearances have produced just four receptions for 78 yards on seven targets. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Mike Evans (Achilles), Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring), and Demarcus Robinson (ankle) could return after the bye, while Christian Kirk (calf) made his season debut Sunday. Watkins has earned more opportunities during the team's injury troubles, but the competition could substantially reduce his workload by Week 9.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Deebo Samuel Sr. has a Chance to Return in Week 9
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Monday that veteran wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) will have a chance to return in Week 9 against the Las Vegas Raiders after the team's Week 8 bye, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. The same can be said for Mike Evans (Achilles, rib) and Demarcus Robinson (ankle). Samuel injured his hamstring in the Week 5 win over the division-rival Seattle Seahawks and has missed the last two games going into the bye. With Evans and Samuel inactive on Sunday in the Week 7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, tight end George Kittle led the team in receiving, with Jordan Watkins leading the receiving corps. Reinforcements appear to be on their way following the Week 8 bye, which will be great news for quarterback Brock Purdy. The 30-year-old Samuel has caught 16 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns in five games so far in 2026, but with San Francisco getting healthier at the position, the veteran could find targets and touches harder to come by as the season progresses. He has also seen nine rushing attempts for 78 yards.
Source: NBC Sports - Matt Maiocco
Source: NBC Sports - Matt Maiocco
De'Zhaun Stribling on Track to Return in December
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Monday that rookie second-round wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) is still on track to return from Injured Reserve in December, according to The San Francisco Standard's David Lombardi. After creating buzz in 49ers training camp all summer and through the preseason, the 23-year-old Stribling injured his ankle in his regular-season NFL debut in the Week 1 win over the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in Australia and has been out ever since. The 49ers' receiving corps is one of the most banged-up units in all of football, so getting Stribling back towards the end of the season will be a welcome addition, but fantasy managers still stashing the rookie must remain patient. Stribling is currently rostered in only 25% of Yahoo leagues and probably will not have much time to contribute in single-year fantasy leagues when/if he returns in December. With both Mike Evans (Achilles, rib) and Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) out in the Week 7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, tight end George Kittle had a team-high 88 receiving yards on eight catches, with Jordan Watkins leading the receiving corps with three catches on six targets for 56 yards.
Source: The San Francisco Standard - David Lombardi
Source: The San Francisco Standard - David Lombardi
Mike Evans has a Chance to Return After Bye Week
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Monday that the team has a chance to get veteran wide receiver Mike Evans (Achilles, rib) back in Week 9 against the Las Vegas Raiders following their Week 8 bye, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. Evans has seemingly played banged up since training camp this summer, and he was forced to sit out of Sunday's first loss of the year against the Atlanta Falcons after aggravating his Achilles injury in last Monday night's victory over the Washington Commanders. The 33-year-old future Hall of Famer has also been playing through several broken ribs. The six-time Pro Bowler has been productive through it all, catching 27 of his 39 targets for 420 yards and three touchdowns in his first six games in San Francisco after spending the first 12 years of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Evans returns after the bye, he will be back on the WR2 radar in fantasy as the team's top wideout for quarterback Brock Purdy. Fantasy managers will need to watch Evans' practice status closely next week to determine if he will be ready to play versus the Raiders.
Source: The San Francisco Standard - David Lombardi
Source: The San Francisco Standard - David Lombardi
Jordan Watkins Steps Into a Larger Role on Sunday Afternoon
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jordan Watkins caught three of his six targets for 56 yards during Sunday's Week 7 loss against the Atlanta Falcons. He almost had a touchdown catch, too, but it was reversed to an incompletion upon replay review. Watkins stepped up as one of Brock Purdy's favorite targets with so many injuries across the receiver room, including Mike Evans (Achilles), Deebo Samuel (hamstring), De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle), and Demarcus Robinson (ankle). The 24-year-old has now played 76% of the offensive snaps in each of his last two games, but that trend may not continue going forward. The 49ers have a bye in Week 8, giving players like Evans and Samuel a little extra time to get healthy. Christian Kirk, who returned from injured reserve Sunday but wasn't targeted, will also have a full two weeks to get back up to NFL speed so that he can contribute when the Niners return to action in Week 9 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Assuming Watkins falls off the No. 1 role going forward, he can be avoided in most fantasy football leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian Kirk is an Intriguing Pickup Ahead of Week 7 Return
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Christian Kirk (calf) has been activated from the Injured Reserve ahead of the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Kirk has been sidelined since suffering a calf injury during training camp in late July. He's set to make his season debut this weekend after missing the first six games of the regular season. Kirk could immediately become a top target with Mike Evans (ribs, Achilles) and Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) both ruled out. The veteran wideout might end up becoming the top target in the offense during his first game back in the mix. Fantasy managers in deep leagues looking for a possible flex option should consider adding Kirk.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Christian Kirk Activated from IR, Will Play in Week 7
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Christian Kirk (calf) has been activated from Injured Reserve ahead of his team's Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Kirk has yet to play in 2026 after suffering a calf injury in training camp. However, he could profile as San Francisco's WR1 immediately upon his return, as the 49ers will be without top wideouts Mike Evans (Achilles, ribs) and Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) against Atlanta. Across 13 games with the Houston Texans in 2025, Kirk recorded 28 catches for 239 yards and a touchdown on 52 targets. The 49ers will undoubtedly heavily feature tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey in their passing game, so fantasy managers should temper expectations for Kirk. Still, the veteran profiles as an intriguing wide receiver streamer in Week 7.
Source: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
Source: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
