Patrick Willis says the 49ers’ Super Bowl window is thinning, not closed, because depth has diminished and injuries loom. He stresses every week’s health and exact execution as crucial this season.

He notes veteran leadership as a stabilizer and highlights the impact of the 2024 and 2025 drafts to inject youth. If the offensive line is shored up and depth develops, San Francisco can still contend despite a slimmer margin for error.

Healthy, cohesive play could keep the window open, but injuries or stalled depth would narrow it further, underscoring why every game matters for SF.

Updated DST rankings for 2025 place Broncos, Steelers, and Eagles atop fantasy defenses, with the Packers, 49ers, Vikings, and Bills following closely. The slate also spots Chiefs, Texans, Cardinals, Chargers, Lions, Giants, Seahawks, Jets, and Cowboys across tiers, highlighting a mix of sturdy floors and streaming targets.

The big storyline is the Micah Parsons to Packers trade and its ripple effects on defensive fantasy value, plus reminders to consider Week 1 streamers for defense while juggling other top units.

Valdes-Scantling's insider edge from six months with SF could unlock deeper shots against Seattle in Week 1, boosting SF's ceiling on the outside and giving Garoppolo-like comfort throws to stretch the field early.

ESPN highlighted Upton Stout as an under-the-radar rookie who, if healthy, should start in SF's nickel, potentially shifting matchup dynamics and elevating SF's mid-range attack as Seattle adjusts to a faster slot defender.

With Deebo Samuel moving to Washington and Brandon Aiyuk out until Week 6, Pearsall must lift, pushing Valdes-Scantling into a bigger role. SF's receiving corps thins quickly, so MVS and Pearsall become focal points early, shaping Week 1 targets and fantasy upside.

Week 1 against Seattle will test SF's WR depth, George Kittle usage, and a defense facing a familiar foe. The opener could be high-variance: big-play opportunities for Valdes-Scantling, value-filled targets for Pearsall, and a need for efficient play-action to spark the offense.