Demarcus Robinson is suspended for three games by the NFL for a substance-abuse policy violation, forcing the 49ers to navigate a rough start without him against Seattle, New Orleans and Arizona. The ban follows a misdemeanor DUI plea; Robinson did not overturn the ruling on appeal. San Francisco can hold his roster spot until after Week 3.

The 49ers’ receiver room was already stretched after Deebo Samuel’s offseason move and Brandon Aiyuk’s knee injury, so Robinson’s absence compounds the challenge. Robinson produced 31 catches for 505 yards and seven touchdowns with the Rams last year, but SF will rely on Jennings, Watkins and Cowing to step up as Jennings eyes a new deal and Watkins and Cowing deal with injuries.

San Francisco adds Skyy Moore from Kansas City to shore up a WR room hit hard by injuries and suspensions. Moore, a former second-round pick, has totaled 494 yards on 43 receptions with one TD across three seasons, including a Super Bowl TD, but now steps into a 49ers offense with Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Jordan Watkins, and DeMarcus Robinson nursing illnesses or disciplinary issues. The trade comes as SF closes its preseason with the Chargers, hoping Moore can unlock space and reduce the reliance on a hobbled group.

Moore’s arrival gives Shanahan another option for speed and gadget looks, while the injury report around Aiyuk, Jennings, Watkins, and Robinson creates a potential early-season role for Moore, with Jacob Cowing also in the mix as a hamstring-limited practice participant. The Chiefs’ move also leaves KC thinner at WR depth, though Moore’s ceiling remains linked to opportunity and how SF manages the weekly game plan. Fantasy managers should monitor practice reports and alignment with Purdy as the season opens.

In the bigger fantasy calculus, Moore’s value hinges on snaps and route tree expansion beyond the usual SF targets. If Moore can secure a handful of early targets and blend in with SF’s run-heavy approach, he could emerge as a flex option in deeper leagues or a speculative upside play in DFS and dynasty setups. Watch how the 49ers deploy him in the final preseason tune-up and early regular-season games to gauge his path to a meaningful role.

Skyy Moore is off to San Francisco in a pick-swap deal that exchanges sixth- and seventh-round choices in 2027. The Chiefs clear a WR lane, while the 49ers load up behind Brandon Aiyuk, with injuries and suspensions clouding the room. Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalen Royals, Ricky Pearsall and Demarcus Robinson are all cited as related pieces, underscoring the ripple effects across the WR depth charts.

Fantasy managers should note SF’s immediate need for consistent targets, with Moore stepping into a crowded but thin group in an offense that’s been snake-bitten by injuries. For KC, the swap sharpens the back-end WR curve and could push Rice or Worthy into bigger roles sooner if Moore flourishes in SF. In dynasty leagues, Moore is worth stashing, but in redraft he’s a speculative hold until SF’s WR ICs shake out.

Overall, the trade signals both teams are reconfiguring their WR boards mid-summer, with Moore’s move creating opportunity for SF’s injured receivers while KC retools its depth behind Rashee Rice and other young playmakers.

San Francisco’s wideout room is in flux as Week 1 nears, with Brandon Aiyuk on the PUP list and Ricky Pearsall likely stepping into a key role alongside Jauan Jennings, Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing, and DeMarcus Robinson. The 49ers reportedly tried to land John Metchie III from Houston before he ended up with Philadelphia, a move that would have given Purdy a dynamic upgrade. Metchie’s Alabama pedigree and leukemia comeback add intrigue, but San Francisco will keep scanning the trade block and monitor roster cuts for fresh help. Purdy’s target tree could shift dramatically if Pearsall, Cowing, or Watkins seize increased snaps early, potentially reshaping Week 1 projections against Seattle.

In the Metchie scenario, the 49ers would’ve benefited from a high-upside lottery ticket for 2025, with the Texans’ former second-round pick carrying Alabama-era playmaking potential. Philadelphia’s acquisition of Metchie for a 2026 fifth-round pick and Harrison Bryant underscores how teams value lottery-ticket WR depth, and it highlights how close San Francisco came to adding a player who could have altered Purdy’s ceiling this season. With Aiyuk sidelined initially, the path to competitive WR production for Purdy remains open, contingent on health and on which unproven receivers seize opportunities in practice and early-season games.

Bradlee Anae’s placement on injured reserve tightens San Francisco’s defensive-end rotation just as Malik Turner returns to the 49ers, giving them a veteran option to lean on in camp and preseason. Turner, re-signed for a third stint in San Francisco, figures to absorb extra snaps while top receivers Jauan Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk, and Jordan Watkins nurse injuries or ramp up. Jacob Cowing’s return from a hamstring setback adds a spark to a receiving corps with question marks, potentially elevating Turner’s value as a reliable depth piece.

Turner’s role is unlikely to secure a regular-season spot, but his presence could dampen early-season volatility for SF pass-catching depth and provide a dependable option in practice rounds and joint-practice sessions with the Raiders. The injury news around Anae also underscores how SF might lean on a deeper rotation to protect regulars in a crowded camp battle, while the Broncos and Raiders prep for joint sessions and two remaining preseason games, offering a clear signal on how SF plans to distribute snaps and protect its core players once the season begins.