George Kittle lands on injured reserve with a hamstring in a tight 49ers schedule storm, four games in 23 days. Earliest return could be Oct. 12 at Tampa Bay if a four-week window holds. Jake Moody is waived after a misfire and a blocked kick as Eddy Pineiro visits for a potential replacement. With Kittle out, Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges step in at tight end, Kyle Juszczyk may see more inline TE duties, and Brayden Willis could be elevated from the practice squad if needed.

Moody’s shaky SF tenure and Pineiro’s visit add kicking uncertainty beyond Robbie Gould’s legacy. The Niners must navigate a grueling stretch against New Orleans, Arizona, Jacksonville and the Rams, while Purdy looks to sustain timing with a reshaped TE corps. Fantasy implications center on reduced Kittle volume early and how SF redistributes targets and red-zone chances during this heavy slate.

San Francisco’s 22-19 preseason win over Las Vegas sparked a refreshed 53-man roster projection, with depth and rookies driving the biggest shifts rather than injuries. The Niners are prioritizing versatility and pass-blocking depth across the front, while rookie standouts push veterans for snaps at multiple spots.

At quarterback, Purdy remains the clear starter, with Carter Bradley as the lone real challenger behind him; keeping a third QB isn’t favored. In the backfield, McCaffrey anchors the group alongside Guerendo and James, with Kiner’s ankle issue complicating his roster chances and the team weighing a possible waivers-and-practice-squad route for him.

The receiving corps stays six deep, with Gage potentially the odd man out if they keep five, especially if Brandon Aiyuk returns later than expected from the PUP list. At tight end, Tonges secured Dwelley’s spot to maintain two-way usage, while Willis has flashed enough to stick. The offensive line adds interior flexibility with Colby Colby stepping into the ninth spot as Puni’s knee injury lingers, underscoring depth concerns at tackle.

On defense, the 49ers lean into inside punch with front-line talent, but a tightened rotation at end and inside DL remains a concern. Depth at linebacker is balanced, with a six-man group a hypothetical possibility. In the secondary, BYU rookie Jakob Robinson and a handful of versatile vets provide insurance at corner and safety, while Moody’s display solidified his hold on the kicking job. Special teams and the kick return game appear stable, cementing a core for Week 1 while other spots stay hotly contested.

Overall, the emphasis is on securing a functional depth chart that can adapt to a busy season, with rookies or versatile reserves poised to surprise in late-summer action and potentially earn a slice of the 53-man roster that could influence fantasy depth charts and weekly lineup decisions.

Seattle pivots from Geno Smith’s era to a retooled offense built around Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in elevated but injury-tinged roles. The shift centers on a potentially bigger target share for Smith-Njigba while Darnold’s past fantasy efficiency argues for early-round consideration in 2025, especially in PPR formats. SportsLine’s 10,000-simulation ranking places value on sleepers like Brian Robinson Jr. in Washington and Ashton Jeanty in Las Vegas; Tucker Kraft is flagged as a bust in Green Bay. The model also nods to CJ Stroud’s sophomore year caution, while highlighting sleeper bets and breakouts to trim ADPs in both PPR and non-PPR leagues.

Darnold’s arrival creates a nuanced trio of pass targets as Kupp’s load carries injury and age risk, while the 23-year-old Smith-Njigba is poised for a larger slice of the offense. The article underscores that, even with veteran presence in Kupp, Smith-Njigba’s prior WR9 finish points to an optimize-able role in a more pass-friendly Seattle scheme. It also leans on proven model credibility, citing past calls on players like A.J. Brown and Jonathan Taylor and projecting 2025 sleepers, breakouts and busts with a data-driven lens.