San Francisco stands at an inflection point in 2025, leaning on a rising core as the window on glorious runs tightens. Purdy carries the weight of a five-year, $265 million deal and must elevate a new supporting cast to keep the offense humming. Bosa remains elite, but a younger line around him requires more dominance to keep the defense rolling. Pearsall needs a breakout year as the No. 1 option, while Shanahan’s job security adds a pressure layer on every decision.

As the 49ers navigate this crossroads, fantasy managers should watch Purdy’s development, Pearsall’s opportunity window, and the defense’s ability to adapt with rookies ready to contribute. The blend of veteran expectations and a growing young backbone signals a potential regroup-and-rise season rather than a simple continuation of the ascent.

Kyle Shanahan shrugged off the idea of nerves around sniffing salts, saying he’d take one if offered and isn’t worried about players like George Kittle having to provide their own on gameday. He jokes about waking up, locking in, and even shaking his head if the salts aren’t available, signaling a relaxed but focused mindset around the new rule.

Kittle, a known salts enthusiast, is expected to figure out a workaround if needed. The broader note is simple: the NFL won’t supply smelling salts, pushing players to bring their own. In fantasy terms, Kittle’s presence and reliability remain intact; his day-to-day routine might bend a bit, but his target share and upside for SF likely won’t budge much.

Christian McCaffrey's health stands as the fulcrum for San Francisco's season. Shanahan praised the running back's speed, strength, and overall condition, noting McCaffrey is fully engaged and ready for a heavy, smart workload, not reckless pounding. The message is clear: keep him healthy for Week 1 and beyond, and the 49ers offense stays potent.

Shanahan highlights ongoing dialogue with McCaffrey and the medical staff, stressing a measured preseason plan to balance readiness with long-term health. The return from last year’s camp absence and knee setback is framed as a major lift if the workload is managed. If McCaffrey stays healthy, SF fans and fantasy managers should expect a top-tier contributor anchoring a postseason push.

The joint practices with the Raiders offered a physical test, with Shanahan joking about GPS data to illustrate McCaffrey's high pace. All signs point to a healthy ceiling for SF’s offense in 2025, provided McCaffrey stays on the field. For fantasy players, the core takeaway is clear: draft and deploy McCaffrey with confidence, but monitor his health and the coaching staff’s workload plan as the season begins.

Trey Lance’s fresh start with the Los Angeles Chargers offers a new lens on his upside. In two preseason outings he flashed the dual-threat toolkit, rushing seven times for 48 yards and a touchdown while going 7-for-14 for 55 passing yards. The landing spot places him behind Justin Herbert but in a scheme and QB room that could unlock his developmental arc, making a late-round dynasty stash plausible for fantasy managers.

Louis Riddick’s praise of Lance in the Chargers’ setup—calling it the right program, coach, and QB room—frames the move as a positive reset rather than a verdict on Lance’s SF chapter. The chatter around a potential trade or future playing time grows alongside the narrative that Jim Harbaugh’s approach could maximize Lance’s athletic ceiling, a contrast to SF’s path under Kyle Shanahan.

With Herbert entrenched, Lance’s path remains as a high-upside QB2 or trade chip, contingent on reps and health. If he keeps showing mobility, decision-making growth, and a grasp of Harbaugh-style QB-room mentorship, fantasy managers should monitor his snaps closely. A midseason uptick could shift the dynamic for late-round quarterback targets.

Dynasty players should treat Lance as a speculative long-term play; redraft managers might sideline him unless a clear path to meaningful action emerges. Either way, his situation in LA makes him one of the more intriguing late-season risers to watch for fantasy upside and potential trade value.