Dominick Puni’s knee rehab is trending positively and he could be ready for Week 1, per Kyle Shanahan. Ben Bartch has returned to practice, raising the 49ers’ interior guard depth, while Connor Colby would step in at right guard if Puni can’t play. SF opens at Seattle, making interior blocking and Purdy’s protection pivotal to early success.

Bartch’s return bolsters run and pass protection on the right side; Colby’s preseason work gives San Francisco confidence in Week 1 depth. The trio—Puni, Bartch, Colby—shapes the 49ers’ Week 1 plan against Seattle and sets the tone for interior stability all season.

Connor Colby is turning heads in San Francisco as the 249th pick whose preseason play could land him a long-term spot at left guard. He stepped in against Denver, took first-team reps after Ben Bartch left with an elbow issue, and drew strong praise from Kyle Shanahan who noted Colby improves with every week and is adapting to SF’s unique run-game demands. Shanahan highlighted Colby’s athletes’ advantages—size and feet for pass blocking—with learning still needed in the run game. Colby is in a battle with Nick Zakelj, and if he wins the starting job, he’ll join Brock Purdy and Jauan Jennings as seventh-round contributors who became integral to the 49ers’ success.

Shanahan’s comments suggest Colby’s future hinges on translating his Iowa tape, where pass blocking stood out, to SF’s run-first scheme. The center of gravity for fantasy managers is Colby’s upside if he ascends the depth chart: a starter with immediate pass-protection value and potential for sustained role as SF leans on protection and a grounded ground game. Colby’s path is not guaranteed Week 1, but his trajectory—bolstered by Purdy’s development and a continued push from Bartch’s injury absence—could yield a meaningful fantasy floor in deeper leagues.

In San Francisco, depth problems are front and center as August camp drags on. Injuries mounted to two Week 1 starters and a veteran guard, squeezing the 49ers’ options at WR and on the offensive line. Jordan Watkins will miss roughly a month, while Ben Bartch and safety Jason Pinnock exited early, prompting Kyle Shanahan to explore free-agent avenues without panicking. The rogues gallery of new injuries compounds concerns at receiver as Jauan Jennings recovers from a calf issue. Yet a handful of rookies answered the call with eye-opening performances, giving fantasy players a thread of optimism amid the churn.

On the bright side, Marques Sigle seized Week 14's practice window, emerging as a real Week 1 consideration thanks to Mustapha and Brown’s absences. Jake Moody delivered a seven-for-seven day, including multiple 50-plus yarders, anchoring a position that matters in tight spreads. Brock Purdy connected repeatedly with George Kittle, including a red-zone strike to Christian McCaffrey, reinforcing chemistry as the WR corps heals. Connor Colby slid into the top unit at left guard, an encouraging sign for depth up front as injuries linger.

Rumors swirl about add-ons at receiver (Amari Cooper, Gabe Davis), but San Francisco’s plan remains methodical rather than reactive. The team still faces an uphill climb to finish camp clean, but the convergence of/between young playmakers and key contributors suggests a path forward. The depth chart in August rarely stays static, yet this edition signals which pieces could tilt the early-season balance for fantasy managers.

San Francisco’s preseason opener offered a clear snapshot of the 49ers’ rookie class in flux. Thirteen of the original seventeen rookies played, delivering a spectrum of outcomes from incomplete to standout. Mykel Williams was inactive with a knee issue, leaving edge-rep opportunities thin early. Alfred Collins and Nick Martin struggled to impact the game, while Upton Stout and Jordan Watkins flashed the most upside. Watkins snagged three of six targets for 56 yards, highlighted by a 50-yard grab that underscored potential early playing time. Contenders like Connor Colby flashed steady progress in pass protection, Junior Bergen provided a spark on special teams, and Marques Sigle looked the part of a developing starter in the secondary depth chart. The takeaway for fantasy: Watkins could press for early involvement, Kiner’s vision and stroke give him a roster case, and the 49ers’ late-rounds and undrafted group showed enough in flashes to keep a few on the radar for practice squads or later-season roles.

Other notes: Jordan James’ injury-impacted return suggests the depth at running back will be tested, while Kurtis Rourke remains on the non-football injury list, delaying a potential rookie quarterback path. CJ West’s nickel corner role remains a focal point as the defense builds interior pressure and coverage flexibility. In total, SF’s rookie performance laid a foundation of intrigue—enough to keep fantasy managers watching the next exhibition for real clues on playing time, role definition, and depth-chart movement as Week 1 approaches.