Week one brings Seahawks and 49ers to a charged Lumen Field, with Seattle chasing a return to the postseason by leaning into a potent, improved run game and a defense built to win the line of scrimmage. The plan hinges on offensive line play and ball-control, aiming to lift the rushing ranking from last season and keep the clock moving against a tough SF front. If Seattle translates preseason success to the regular season and avoids turnovers, their ceiling climbs into the 11- to 13-win range in a tight division race.

SF arrives with elite talent at key spots but turnover on the perimeter and injuries cloud the offense. The front seven remains formidable with Bosa and Warner anchoring the defense, while play-action and bold play-calling challenge Seattle’s defense. The hosts also spotlight rookies Elijah Royo and Tory Horton as potential early contributors, adding intrigue to a rivalry that opens the season with high stakes for the NFC West.

Jennings returns to 49ers practice as game week arrives, with a fresh window to prove himself for an extension and a path to big early-season production if he stays healthy. Bourne’s visit adds a veteran wrinkle to SF’s depth chart, while Gage’s return keeps Week 1 WR plans fluid and could tilt target shares in Seattle. Purdy and Kittle anchor the offense, Moody’s lingering kicking questions loom, and the defense faces a Seahawks test that will expose SF’s plan for the run game and pass rush. The looming Bosa contract and Shanahan’s game management remain central to fantasy angles as SF aims to navigate health, division games, and a volatile Week 1 environment.

Mike McDonald and Seattle’s new-look scheme add complexity for SF’s approach, with Sam Darnold facing a blitz-heavy plan and SF’s young players expected to contribute early. In this landscape, Jennings’ Week 1 trajectory hinges on health and volume, while Purdy’s supporting cast—Kittle and McCaffrey—must carry pace. Sleeper’s nudges aside, the opener serves as a proving ground for how SF balances youth and vets over a 17-game horizon, especially given the division’s early tests.

Healthy at last: Jauan Jennings returns to practice, Kendrick Bourne visits, and Dominic Pun inches toward full strength as San Francisco’s Week 1 visit to Seattle looms. The 49ers’ wideout room is finally coming together, with Brandon Ayuk’s status watched and Jordan Watkins adding rookie spark. Contract chatter around Jennings lingers, but health and target distribution could decide his value this season. Seattle’s improvement makes Week 1 a meaningful fantasy test for Purdy, McCaffrey, and a revived WR corps.

Uniforms aside, the early schedule reinforces the need for quick chemistry. Week 3 white uniforms against the Cardinals and Week 4 white primaries vs the Jaguars signal a deliberate heat-season plan at Levi’s. Yahoo Fantasy hype and Guillotine leagues highlight the week-to-week pivot in WR roles, where Bourne’s presence and a healthy Pun could tilt ownership and rostering choices in favor of the 49ers’ versatile attack.

Former NFL referee Walt Anderson pulls back the curtain on the week-to-week grind of officiating, from film study to crew meetings and travel rituals, and how he kept a steady hand through high-stakes moments. He highlights the Vikings vs Packers dynamic as the archetype of game prep, where matchups and tendencies shape what officials anticipate on game day. He dives into the 2025 replay evolution—more boundary cameras, faster frame rates, and selective fixes—while stressing that humans still steer the ship.

Anderson also maps the path for new officials, describing a draft-like process and the discipline required to reset after mistakes. He shares the mental toolkit—pre-snap routines, keys, and focus—and explains why conspiracy talk around officiating misses the point. The takeaway: technology enhances accuracy, but the human element remains central to game tempo and fairness.