Team news: San Francisco 49ers | Page 10

Chiefs WR Rashee Rice is expected to have his disciplinary hearing with the NFL on Tuesday, Sept 30 in New York. This means that Rice now is likely to be able to play the first four weeks of this season before any potential discipline is imposed for his role in a multi-car crash in Dallas during the 2024 offseason.

Related Players: Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, Skyy Moore, Jalen Royals, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Travis Kelce

This is actually pretty miserable timing, as it means a potential suspension could be pushing up against the fantasy playoffs. Regardless, fantasy managers will get the Chiefs WR1 for the first four games of the season, and the suspension could be anywhere from 4-8 games. It'd be nice to have that information as we head into the season, but we'll have to roll with the punches following the hearing.

This could change at any moment but the answer, for now, is second-year wideout Ricky Pearsall. Pearsall has moved past the hamstring injury that kept him out in the spring and has begun stringing good practices together. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said by the end of last season Pearsall was the team's best receiver when it came to beating man coverage. He's continued to sharpen his route running and with many of the other wideouts dealing with injuries, including Jauan Jennings (who would be the answer here if healthy), there are plenty of opportunities for Pearsall to build on his strong finish to last season early in 2025.

Related Players: Brandon Aiyuk, Jacob Cowing, Demarcus Robinson

Things seemed to be heading in this direction, which is probably why the ADPs of Pearsall and Jennings have shifted much closer together over the summer months. Jennings had a massive 175-yard performance in the first month of last season, but Pearsall also closed the year out well and has his first full offseason under his belt after being shot (with a gun) last August. Both options look like they should be in the fantasy WR3 range for now.

The Bucs will be without Chris Godwin to start the season. I would be shocked if he doesn’t start the year on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list. Therefore, that opens up a roster spot at wide receiver. We know Mike Evans, Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan will be the top three receivers to start the season, but Tampa Bay will need two to three more receivers to start the season.

If Godwin does end up on PUP, that means he's out for at least the four games of the season, which would clearly impact his season-long fantasy propositions. Things are really lining up for Egbuka to find a role in the passing game from the jump (whether that's on the inside or the perimeter), and this would boost Evans' target share as well.

Jauan Jennings, 28, is entering the final year of a two-year, $15.4 million extension that he signed with the franchise in May 2024. Despite Jennings wanting a new contract, it doesn't appear that an extension is imminent. Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard reported Tuesday that the "two sides are not close on a new agreement," citing the timing of the contract request.

Related players: Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins

Jennings hasn't practiced since July 27 due to a calf injury which came less than two weeks after a report surfaced that Jennings wants a new contract and is open to a trade if he isn't compensated adequately, the story said. Some are questioning the calf injury, according to the story. Watkins is going to miss a month and Aiyuk should start the season on the PUP list, so the Niners are looking thin at the WR position as we get closer to the season.

Jets coach Aaron Glenn told reporters that QB Tyrod Taylor had a knee procedure and they hope he’ll be ready for Week 1. But his preseason is over.

Related Players: Justin Fields, Brady Cook, Adrian Martinez

Those looking to backup Fields on their fantasy roster will need to keep an eye on this situation. It's good news he should be ready to go for Week 1, but just in case, Cook or Martinez would likely serve as the team's QB2 - unless the Jets make another move.

The 49ers don’t know for sure when wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will be ready to return from last season’s knee injury. But it should be around the middle of the season.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said today that there’s still a range of potential outcomes, but Week 6 is a potential target date he’s thinking of, not just for Aiyuk to make his 2025 debut, but also for quarterback Kurtis Rourke and safety Malik Mustapha, both of whom are also recovering from knee injuries.

Shanahan said it could be Week 5, or Week 10, but he knows it won't be Week 1, according to the story. Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL on October 20 of last season in a game against the Chiefs. The 49ers’ Week Six game is against the Buccaneers on Oct. 12, so if that’s Aiyuk’s return date, he would have missed just under a full year, the story pointed out.

Jaylin Noel: Can't really figure out how he gets on the field a ton right now.

Related players: Nico Collins, Christian Kirk, Jayden Higgins

The post went on to say with Kirk in the mix and Higgins ticketed for outside work, there isn't really a spot for Noel. However, the post went on to say there is confidence Noel is a good player who would shine if given opportunities in this offense. Right now, Noel seems more like a very late sleeper pick in redraft leagues, and a guy you maybe tuck away in dynasty leagues until he gets his chance. It could take an injury for Noel to get his chance, especially if Kirk continues to play well.

49ers rookie RB Jordan James broke his finger and is getting surgery. Will be out "a couple weeks", Shanahan said

Related Players: Christian McCaffrey, Isaac Guerendo, Corey Kiner, Ameer Abdullah

Guerendo is already sidelined with a shoulder injury so things are pretty thin in the RB room right now. If CMC wasn't already slated for a giant workload, that looks just about locked in at this point. He's an easy first-round click.

49ers GM John Lynch “doesn’t think” WR Brandon Aiyuk will be cleared for Week 1, but no official timetable set for ACL/MCL comeback.

Related players: Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing, Brock Purdy, George Kittle

This comes as no surprise, as we hadn't expected him to return until sometime in mid-season. Aiyuk should be passed over until late in drafts until we get some sort of concrete timetable, which may hint that he doesn't become fantasy-viable until at least the second half of the season. Jennings and Pearsall remain great mid-round picks.

The reason why Rashee Rice didn't practice today -- which was mostly held indoors & without fans -- is because he has a groin injury, per the team.

Related Players: Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, Skyy Moore, Jalen Royals, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Travis Kelce

This seems to be a new injury and adds to Worthy (concussion protocol) and Brown (ankle) receiving their own bruises in practices over the last week or so. There are no further updates to Rice's injury at the time, so we won't speculate further until we receive more information.