Ricky Pearsall’s life-or-death moment last year fueling a formal comeback, he reframes the shooting with a focus on growth and positivity. He returned to the field in 50 days and finished his rookie season strong, positioning himself for a de facto No. 1 role in San Francisco as injuries bite Aiyuk and Jennings. Offseason work with Purdy sharpened timing and route discipline, while Pearsall contemplates forgiveness and a potential face-to-face with the shooter someday.

As the Niners brace for Seattle, Pearsall’s improved camp and chemistry with Purdy suggest a real ceiling. The offense demands precision and timing, and Pearsall has made himself the embodiment of resilience and progress, a beacon for fantasy managers eyeing a late-career breakout.

Green Bay's offseason pivots dramatically from conventional to blockbuster. Kenny Clark was traded to Dallas for Micah Parsons, plus two first-round picks, with Parsons signing a four-year, $188 million extension. Matthew Golden lands at No. 23, breaking a long-held Round 1 WR drought. The Packers also ink Aaron Banks and Nate Hobbs, hinting at urgency from Ed Policy’s new leadership to chase a first title under this regime. The defense, led by a reinvigorated rush, now carries serious fantasy upside.

This shift repositions the entire roster and rosters around the defense, elevating Parsons’ fantasy ceiling while putting Golden on the fast track as a rookie receiver. Gutekunst’s tenure is under scrutiny as the franchise squares up to maximize its Super Bowl window, leveraging aggressive moves to accelerate contention this season.

Round-by-round cautions reshape this fantasy draft. McCaffrey’s Achilles/knee background and workload questions push him from must-pick to avoid. Brock Bowers looks tempting but TE early is misallocated value. Kamara’s decline, Wilson’s Jets offense, and Philly’s pass volume spark a risk-off approach at their spots. Smith’s WR2 status in a run-heavy Philly and Godwin’s timeline add more landmines. Late-rounds favor safer backs or high-upside plays, and kickers in round nine are a sunk cost.

In aggregate, the guide urges managers to pivot from high-risk early selections toward steadier floor options, while reserving bold bets for late-round upside options or proven veterans with clear path to targets. The takeaway: resist overpay for known risk, map workload shifts, and exploit value in rounds where safer roles or clearer roles emerge.