49ers Fantasy News

Friday, May 17, 2013, 5:31pm

Second year WR A.J. Jenkins spent six weeks with quarterback Colin Kaepernick and fellow wideout Ricardo Lockette in Atlanta where they concentrated on strength and speed training. It remains to be seen whether that work will translate to the field, but recent photos of Jenkins show a more bulked-up receiver, and the reports from Atlanta were positive as well.

Said Lockette: "I think A.J. will definitely surprise a lot of people this year. Last year, he took it as a building year. This year from what I've seen so far, it's night and day. I expect big things out of him. He expects big things out of himself, and Kap expects big things out of him. I think Niner nation and the Niner empire will be proud of what A.J. Jenkins brings to the field this year."

Said Aaron Roberts of CES Performance, which is where the group of 49ers trained: "From what we heard, (Jenkins) was not a real big weight room guy coming in, but he did a great job. He definitely showed progress."

The 49ers' starting receivers promise to be Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin. The third receiver spot, however, is wide open. Two of the veteran frontrunners, Kyle Williams and Mario Manningham, are coming off of ACL injuries, and neither is expected to be full participants in the OTA sessions that begin next week.

Michael Floyd running with the starters
Wednesday, May 15, 2013, 2:17pm

Cardinals WR Michael Floyd looks impressive. He appears more confident and he ran with the first team more than Andre Roberts, who also has looked good.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013, 12:25pm

Recently, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke explained that the 49ers' future at running back, ideally, does not include one player, such as Frank Gore, on the field for nearly every snap.

"I'm a big believer -- we are big believers -- in a three-headed approach," Baalke said. "In other words, having a group of backs that bring to the table something a little bit different than the other one so you can do a lot of different things. But also having those backs be able to do enough things the same so you don't become so predictable on game day."

Chudzinski: Jordan Cameron "has the skill set that fits"
Tuesday, May 7, 2013, 12:03pm

Browns HC Rob Chudzinski, a former college tight end and Browns tight ends coach, and OC Norv Turner, intend to develop Jordan Cameron into the next tight end to make plays, not just catches.

Chudzinski’s tight end prodigies in nine NFL seasons as a position coach and coordinator include Kellen Winslow Jr. (Cleveland), Antonio Gates (San Diego) and Greg Olsen (Carolina).

Turner’s in 28 NFL years include Jay Novacek (Dallas), Vernon Davis in his rookie year (San Francisco) and Gates (San Diego).

“This is an offense that has featured tight ends and tight ends have always been a big part of it,” Chudzinski said of Cameron. “He has the skill set that fits.”

Tuesday, May 7, 2013, 10:14am

49era Marcus Lattimore is expected to be placed on "non-football injury" to open training camp.

Shanahan: RG3 will "set a record" in ACL recovery
Sunday, April 7, 2013, 11:40am

The talk that Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is making an unprecedented recovery from reconstructive knee surgery continues.

Two weeks after Dr. James Andrews, who performed Griffin’s surgery, referred to Griffin’s recovery as “superhuman,” Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said in an interview on NFL Network that Griffin’s hard work in rehab is already leading to significant progress.

“He’s over at the facility, rehabbing all of the time. He’ll set a record for coming back because that’s how hard he works,” Shanahan said.

Shanahan cautioned, however, that the Redskins won’t rush Griffin and won’t even have an estimate for when he’ll be back to full-speed on-field work until training camp starts.

“He is ahead, but there’s a process. It takes time. Robert will do it the right way and we’ll find out in July exactly where he’s at,” Shanahan said. “He will not come back until he’s 100 percent.”

Shanahan also continues to say that the read-option offense, which some people think exposes Griffin to too many hits, actually protects Griffin. Shanahan says the biggest thing he wants Griffin to pick up is knowing when to slide at the end of a run.

Lions sign K David Akers
Saturday, April 6, 2013, 10:21am

K David Akers has agreed to a deal with the Lions, according to his agent, Jerrold Colton.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013, 6:34pm

CB Nnamdi Asomugha chooses the 49ers and has agreed to terms, per sources.

Monday, April 1, 2013, 6:13pm

The Browns have dealt QB Colt McCoy to the 49ers.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013, 11:06am

A lower-back injury forced Cowboys WR Dez Bryant to leave the season-ending loss to the Washington Redskins, has kept him from running routes this offseason and might prevent him from being ready to fully participate in organized team activities this offseason.

Bryant, who needed a wheelchair to leave FedEx Field that night, said it took him a week to emotionally get over the loss to the Redskins. He has used that feeling as fuel this offseason, when he's been able to lift weights, run straight ahead and catch passes since the cast was removed from his hand.

Dez Bryant continues to mature
Tuesday, March 26, 2013, 12:00pm

Jerry Jones and Jason Garrett, the two biggest faces with the Dallas Cowboys, praised the work of wide receiver Dez Bryant in two separate conversations last week at the NFL owners meetings.

And not just his on-the-field work, but what he's done off the field.

"He's just a really, really good young man," Garrett said. "He's made great strides over the last three years. We feel good about the progress he's made, not only as a player but as a person. We all know from the background from where he came; he's really grown a lot. I think the consistency that he's shown in his personal life spills over and the consistency he's shown as a player and his production he's shown on Sundays. I feel great about his progress and try to stay in touch with him, with all our players."

On Saturday, Bryant made a surprise appearance at a rally against domestic violence in Dallas.

"Is it dreaming to think that we can have a more effective Dez Bryant?" Jones said. "In the sense, Dez just gets better and has a better understanding of what he's doing when he's not getting the ball: How he's helping Miles (Austin) out. How he's helping (Dwayne) Harris out. How he's helping (James) Hanna and how he's helping (Jason) Witten. But he has a better understanding there. I'm looking forward to a more effective Dez Bryant, and everything I'm saying about his work is showing us that."

DeSean Jackson won't play much RB
Tuesday, March 26, 2013, 11:48am

Eagles HC Chip Kelly threw some cold water on those De'Anthony Thomas and DeSean Jackson comparisons.

"I think [De'Anthony Thomas and DeSean Jackson] are both similar in size and are fast, but DeSean is a wide receiver and De'Anthony is a running back," Kelly said.

"When we got De'Anthony, we looked at some of his traits and thought it was beneficial to get him involved [as a wide receiver] because we had [running backs] LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner [and were asking], how do we get them on the field at the same time."

"DeSean's kind of a wide receiver/running back, but I don't know if he has those qualities of a [running back]. De'Anthony has been a running back his entire life, and my understanding is DeSean has been a receiver his entire life. So they are not similar from that standpoint."

Does that mean Kelly won't use Jackson on an occasional end-around? No. Does it mean Jackson could get 30-40 carries next season? Absolutely not.

Friday, March 22, 2013, 10:48am

Former 49ers WR Ted Ginn is signing a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013, 10:34am

K Phil Dawson, 38, signed a one-year contract Tuesday with the 49ers.

Dawson made his first Pro Bowl last season, converting 29 of 31 attempts. His conversion percentage (93.5) ranked second among NFL kickers in 2012. Defying age, he's made 14 of 15 attempts from at least 50 yards in the past two seasons, including all seven in 2012.

Friday, March 15, 2013, 11:46am

49ers WR Mario Manningham agreed to a $1.8 million pay cut in his base salary for the 2013 season, an NFL source confirmed Thursday.

The new contract, first noticed by Jason Hurley of NinersNation.com, reduces Manningham's base pay from $3.6 million to $1.8 million. Of his salary, $1.25 million is guaranteed for injury only.