Nov 5, 2026, 12:43 PM ET

The San Francisco 49ers continue to work with the NFL to navigate the situation surrounding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who has hired new representation in an attempt to get reinstated back into the league for the remainder of the 2026 season, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. "This is kind of a unique situation, not one you have, so there's really no playbook. But I always go back to what's my charge, what's my job? My job is to look out for the best interest of the 49ers. And as such, in this particular situation, we're working with the NFL Management Council to navigate through a different situation. And so it's fluid. I'm going to kind of leave it at that because I've been recommended to do so, and I think it's the right thing to do for a pathway for both sides here that works... We can talk a little more in detail about the process because it's kind of a fluid situation." The 28-year-old former first-rounder has been on the left-squad list since late last year, but the former first-rounder is now fully healthy after missing all of last year due to a torn ACL in his knee and is ready to join a team, even if the 49ers still do not want him back amidst all of their WR injuries. As for Aiyuk's rest-of-season fantasy football outlook, that is also a fluid situation. He had two straight 1,000-yard seasons before getting hurt in 2024, but we have no idea how he will look post-injury, or whether he will have a strong market if he ends up being released by San Francisco.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner

Nov 5, 2026, 11:46 AM ET

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (ribs, Achilles) is unlikely to play in Sunday's Week 9 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, according to general manager John Lynch, who discussed the veteran's availability Thursday on KNBR. Evans did not practice Wednesday despite having the Week 8 bye to recover from Achilles tendinitis that forced him to miss San Francisco's Week 7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The 33-year-old aggravated the injury against Washington in Week 6, finishing with three receptions for 94 yards before exiting. Evans has caught 27 passes for 420 yards and three touchdowns across six games this season. Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) also missed Wednesday's practice, while Christian Kirk (knee) and Demarcus Robinson (ankle) were limited. Robinson must still be activated from injured reserve before playing. With Evans trending toward another absence and Sunday's game scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET, fantasy managers should prepare a replacement rather than count on his availability.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Matt Maiocco

Nov 5, 2026, 10:48 AM ET

San Francisco tight end George Kittle was already a high-end fantasy football asset, but some big showings of late have only increased his fantasy value overall. He was on a bye in Week 8, but went for 88 yards on eight receptions and 10 targets in Week 7 against the Falcons. His role should remain high in Week 9, as the Niners are dealing with a multitude of injuries. Kittle has at least four targets in all seven of his games played this season, and he has gone over 65 receiving yards in all but two contests. Throw in five touchdown grabs already and he's been a top-level fantasy TE. He has a great fantasy matchup against Las Vegas in Week 9, and he sits as TE2 in our RotoBaller projections for the week as a result. He is a confident starting option every week, especially in these favorable matchups.--Morgan Rode
Source: ESPN

Nov 4, 2026, 6:17 PM ET

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.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Niners Nation - Kyle Posey

Nov 4, 2026, 5:26 PM ET

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (hamstring), who was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday's practice, said he was a bit surprised that what bothered him in the Week 7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons was his hamstring, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. It sounds like he has a chance to return to practice and play this week on Sunday against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders. "It wasn't too bad," McCaffrey said. "I think having the bye week was awesome, but I feel great." The 30-year-old All-Pro RB dealt with a mild left-hamstring strain during the Week 7 loss to the Falcons, but he had last week's bye to rest up, so he is expected to be ready this weekend to take on the Raiders. We will be keeping a close eye on CMC's practice status for the rest of the week. He finished with only 13 touches against Atlanta for 100 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown, so he was still valuable for his fantasy managers. In the event he does not make progress the rest of the week and is held out on Sunday, rookie Kaelon Black would become a plug-and-play, must-start RB in Week 9. McCaffrey is a must-start in all fantasy lineups anytime he is active.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner

Nov 4, 2026, 4:59 PM ET

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.--Will Brady
Source: ESPN - Nick Wagoner

Nov 4, 2026, 4:18 PM ET

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.--Will Brady
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Matt Maiocco

Nov 4, 2026, 9:37 AM ET

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.--Nathan Harvey
Source: Adam Schefter - ESPN

Nov 3, 2026, 9:50 AM ET

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.--Clarkson Ems
Source: RotoBaller

Nov 2, 2026, 5:16 PM ET

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.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Matt Barrows

Nov 2, 2026, 3:19 PM ET

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.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Jordan Schultz

Nov 2, 2026, 11:40 AM ET

San Francisco 49ers running back Kaelon Black deserves consideration on the Week 9 waiver wire after showing what he can provide when Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) is sidelined. Black rushed 12 times for 63 yards and a touchdown in San Francisco's Week 7 loss to Atlanta, including a 30-yard scoring run. He played a season-high 47% of the offensive snaps while McCaffrey missed much of the first half, although Black also lost a fumble and caught just one of three targets for negative-four yards. The rookie has totaled 233 rushing yards on 57 carries this season and is listed directly behind McCaffrey on the 49ers' depth chart. Head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed optimism that McCaffrey would return from his mild hamstring strain following the Week 8 bye, potentially limiting Black's immediate opportunities against Las Vegas. Still, Black's position in the backfield makes him a worthwhile insurance stash in leagues with 10 or more teams, particularly for managers with room to carry a backup running back.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 28, 2026, 3:27 AM ET

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.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 27, 2026, 5:18 PM ET

The San Francisco 49ers acquired three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Adam Schefter. Buckner will return to San Francisco to help fortify their defensive line as an answer to the Seattle Seahawks' acquisition of Pro Bowl offensive guard Quenton Nelson earlier in the day. Buckner was a first-round pick by the 49ers back in 2016 and spent the first four years of his career in the Bay Area before moving to Indianapolis. In seven games so far this year with the Colts in his 11th year in the league, Buckner has 31 tackles (11 solo), four sacks, four tackles for loss, eight QB hits, three pass breakups, and a fumble recovery. The 49ers sent a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Colts in exchange for the veteran pass-rusher. Buckner should start immediately for the Niners and will help their pass rush until All-Pro defensive end Nick Bosa can return from a knee injury.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport