Oregon and Montana State open with a rebuilt look after major roster turnover, each focusing on scheme over names. Oregon replaces 10 NFL-draft departures with Dante Moore at quarterback and a broader, weapons-driven approach, while Montana State plugs in Justin Lamson after his Stanford stint, eyeing playmakers as primary drivers. Lamson’s prior Oregon exposure adds intrigue, but Dan Lanning stresses that game plans will dictate success more than any single return.

MSU arrives riding a 15-1 mark last season and a Big Sky title, but Mellott’s exit shifts the burden to Lamson alongside Taco Dowler and Adam Jones. Oregon counters with a fresh QB-room and a resilient mindset, hoping to redefine identity in Autzen’s opener. The backdrop is clear: talent is redistributed, and the winner will be the team best executing its new plan.

San Francisco added a proven, physical back in Brian Robinson to blunt the 49ers’ injury woes at running back, sending a 2026 sixth-rounder to Washington after Robinson clears a physical. The move shores up behind Christian McCaffrey, with SF’s backfield banged up by IR designations for Patrick Taylor, Corey Kiner and Ameer Abdullah this month, and Jordan James facing a broken finger. Robinson’s run-heavy profile—799 yards and eight TDs on 2022-23 carries plus 2,329 rushing yards in three seasons—gives the 49ers a trusted early-down option if McCaffrey’s workload ebbs. The blockbuster comes on the heels of SF swapping late picks with Kansas City to land Skyy Moore, adding another veteran asset to a revamped offense. The Robinson trade adds immediate depth, while the Moore deal signals SF’s willingness to invest in high-upside pieces for a contending roster.

Robinson’s history includes a life-altering 2022 carjacking episode in which he was shot but recovered to post a solid sophomore year. He’s viewed as a capable, between-the-tones runner who can keep the offense moving when McCaffrey needs a breather. Fantasy managers should watch how SF deploys him: expect a committee role with a clear path to touches in short-yardage, early downs, and pass protection packages. Skyy Moore’s arrival shores up the receiving corps and could compress the ceiling for miscapped targets, while the 49ers’ depth chart remains prone to fluctuations as IR returns unfold and James returns to action.

Injury-driven depth picks fuel this year’s late-round RB stash. Eight backs across multiple backfields offer true contingency upside in deep leagues, with Keaton Mitchell leading the tier as a potential Ravens fill-in if J.K. Dobbins misses time. The crew also includes Tahj Brooks, Bhayshul Tuten, Kyle Monangai, Jaydon Blue, Devin Neal, and Jordan James, each positioned behind established starters yet with clear paths to meaningful work should opportunities open. Expect waivers and late-draft targets to prize these players for possible burst weeks in 2025.

Mitchell’s speed and rookie efficiency foreshadow a high-ceiling role if volume rises; Brooks and Tuten carry breakout potential in Cincinnati and Jacksonville, respectively, while Monangai, Blue, Neal, and James offer clean depth-chart fits with upside in positive-game-script systems. Injuries to starters are the common catalyst, but even in non-injury weeks these backs can produce in limited touches via breakaway plays, goal-line chances, or as receiving options. The piece stresses that league rankings and late-round values remain fluid, making these players prime waiver-wire adds as the season unfolds.