Mac Jones stepped in for a sidelined Brock Purdy and threw for 279 yards with 3 TDs in a 26-21 win that pushed the 49ers to 2-0. The performance ignited a flood of “what if” takes across outlets, pitting Jones against Trey Lance and sparking Montana–Young comparisons. Jones flashed upside, though the opponent was Saints-draped by a shaky last-year yardage tally. Purdy’s health looms large as San Francisco weighs its long-term QB path.

San Francisco’s week-two reality check: Purdy is sidelined by turf-toe/toe and shoulder issues, a long-shot to play against New Orleans. The 49ers turn to Mac Jones, with Brandon Allen and Joshua Dobbs noted historically as emergency options. Kittle’s hamstring injury puts more pressure on San Francisco’s passing game while Bridge to Lance looms in the backstory. The upcoming slate (Saints, Cardinals, Jaguars, Rams, Buccaneers) tests Jones and the system’s resilience, especially without Purdy’s floor-raising play.

Fantasy angles tilt toward Jones as a potential streamer early, with Kittle out of the equation for several weeks and SF leaning on the run game and short-mesh concepts. San Francisco’s prior Week-2 outcomes without Purdy hint at volatility, but the surrounding cast—McCaffrey, Samuel, and the defense—keeps the floor high if Jones adapts quickly. Track Purdy’s timeline for re-entry and Jones’ early chemistry in high-leverage spots.