Draft season is an exercise in risk management. You spend the early rounds chasing proven volume, then a rookie running back on a bad team sits there daring you to bet talent over situation. Every year, one of those bets ends up deciding a ******* le.
Draft Jeremiyah Love, and plan to stash him through a shaky first month. The Cardinals rookie is going RB13 in July PPR drafts, late in the second round, so the price already bakes in a slow start. That discount is the opportunity.
The hesitation is understandable. Love landed on a three-win team with a crowded backfield and an unsettled quarterback room, and the fantasy community has spent the summer talking itself down on him. That is exactly the kind of noise that creates a value, because the profile underneath it has not changed.
Start with the history, because it holds up. Every running back drafted inside the top 10 since 2012 has averaged at least 14.3 PPR points per game as a rookie from Christian McCaffrey at 14.3 to Saquon Barkley at 24.1. Bijan Robinson (14.5) and Ashton Jeanty (14.4) landed in messy situations and still cleared that bar. None of them busted.
Love carries the same draft capital. Arizona took him third overall, the highest a back has come off the board since Barkley in 2018, and teams do not spend that kind of pick to hand out a timeshare.

#barkley #start #team

The San Francisco 49ers are bringing back an old friend. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel is signing a 1-year deal worth $7 million. This comes after the news that Ricky Pearsall might not play in 2026. Earlier on Thursday we asked what Deebo was up to. We're about to find out.
Deebo needs no introduction. He spent the entireity of his career in the Bay Area before a one-year stint with the Commanders last year. Samuel saw more targets last season than he had since 2021. He finished the season with 72 receptions for 727 yards and five touchdowns.
Most of Deebo's targets came near the line of scrimmage. His average air yards per target was the lowest since 2022, at 5.3. Of those 99 targets, 67 came under 10 yards.
Washington used Samuel primarily as a slot receiver. He ran 260 routes in the slot, compared to 141 out wide. It's worth noting that Samuel also ran 15 routes from the backfield. If the 49ers are looking for somebody to take some of the workload off Christian McCaffrey with Jordan James sidelined, who better than the player who we coined the term "wideback" for?
We're projecting here, but Samuel would likely play in the slot while Stribling gets familiar with "Z." That is, unless Demarcus Robinson or Christian Kirk prove that they can contribute as outside receivers in this offense.

#samuel #targets #slot #christian

How bold do you think the Red Sox are going to be this trade deadline? The team is no doubt in a tricky situation, with a playoff berth currently in hand, but a roster that likely presents too many challenges to genuinely contend. But one ESPN insider isn't mincing words: "They are going big," says Jeff Passan. "Maybe that means getting Zach Neto from the Angels. They could try to convince Houston to move Jeremy Pena, even as the Astros try to win now, or wheedle [CJ] Abrams from Washington. The best opportunity, though, could be [Otto] Lopez, the Marlins' All-Star shortstop." (Jeff Passan, ESPN)
Lopez is having a fine season, but the shortstop that really gets the mouth watering is Bobby Witt, Jr. Is he a total pipedream? "Acquiring Witt, Kansas City's 26-year-old All-Star shortstop, would require a haul, and yes, I'd have to imagine the Royals asking price starts with Anthony and Arias. Starters Payton Tolle and Eyanson would probably also be part of the Royals' asking price." (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)
Otto Lopez may or may not be the answer in the middle of the diamond, but there is little question that the Red Sox need to beef up the offense. "There's been a through-line among teams that have advanced in the playoffs and particularly among those that have won: the ability to mash… Since 2020, 24 teams have reached the League Championship Series … On average, those teams have ranked sixth among all teams in regular-season runs, with 13 of the 24 ranking in MLB's top five in runs per game, and 19 finishing in the top 10." (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
There is a slight chance that Curtis Mead will be around to help out that offense at some point this season. After returning to Boston, a specialist ruled out the need for surgery to repair his fractured wrist. "One source said that Mead was given a 'tentative' timeline of 6-8 weeks. The regular season ends eight weeks from Sunday, on September 27." (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
Having enough offense to take an early lead could be particularly valuable for this team because, thanks to the emergence of Tyron Guerrero, the Red Sox bullpen is suddenly shortening games for the opposition. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

#season #espn #passan

49ers' Christian McCaffrey turns to former trainer of Conor McGregor to retain edge beyond 30 (paywall)
"McCaffrey did the usual physical exercise, too, but Portal does not so neatly identify as a strength and conditioning coach and especially not a football trainer. This appealed to McCaffrey as he searched for a new layer to his training and recovery regimen.
"It's almost too much to even give you an answer with words," McCaffrey said, "but it was a heck of an experience. … He's a brilliant mind when it comes to movement, the body, the mind, everything."
49ers' Kyle Shanahan built a career on quick decisions. A concussion makes lunch feel impossible (paywall)
"Shanahan occasionally closed his eyes when he spoke because doing so, he said, felt better when there was too much stimulus. It can be disorienting when multiple people speak to him, and he said the music that pulsates when he observes part of practice was "killing" him. He's dealing with regular headaches and fatigue and, of course, there's his indecisiveness: His lunch decisions can require as much thought as how to plan the 49ers' schedule in the week before their regular-season opener in Melbourne, Australia.
The team's doctors have told Shanahan his injured brain needs to push through pain — to a point. He has a numerical scale to judge the intensity of his headaches — from 1 to 6 — and that's served as a guide as he's watched practice film and tackled other duties before leaving the facility far earlier than he's accustomed.
"The whole thing that I used to think was you lay in a dark room and rest — and that's not it," Shanahan said. "When your pain's a 2, they want you to do something to bring it up to a 4. But as soon as it gets there, you're supposed to stop and let it come down. And then just keep building that muscle.

#shanahan

The San Francisco 49ers dealt with so many injuries throughout their 2025 campaign, that it was almost difficult for the team to keep enough players on the roster at times, and now it looks like these issues are creeping up again.
Before Wednesday's training camp session, ESPN's Nick Wagoner reported that wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, running back Jordan James and safety Malik Mustapha are all injured and won't practice.
According to Wagoner, Pearsall is dealing with knee swelling that stems from the PCL injury that he suffered in 2025. That injury cost him significant time last year, and with the team reportedly considering all options, including surgery, this could be a long-term issue.
James suffered a fractured rib that will keep him off the field for some time. The 22-year-old was battling 2025 draft pick Kaelon Black to be Christian McCaffrey's top backup, but this will certainly impact that competition. For now, Black will be the guy with Patrick Taylor Jr. and Sincere McCormick filling in.
Mustapha has a hamstring strain, which will keep him out of Wednesday's practice. However, it's unclear how significant the strain is. George Kittle missed five weeks with a hamstring last year. That would put the defensive back returning right around Week 1. If it's serious, it might give the upper hand to Marques Sigle, who's surprisingly battling Mustapha for a starting job.

#year #james #back

De'Zhaun Stribling has been one of my favorite fantasy rookie wideouts, despite the fact that he started the summer behind Mike Evans, Ricky Pearsall, and Christian Kirk on the depth chart. Now Kirk is hurt. A strong camp would make Stribling one of fantasy's biggest bargains.
When the Niners selected Stribling with the first pick in the second round of this year's draft, they were investing in a potentially NFL-ready wideout. But why? Aren't they deep at receiver with Evans, Pearsall, and Kirk, along with TE George Kittle and monster pass-catching RB Christian McCaffrey? But most of these guys are on the verge of post-prime. McCaffrey is 30. Kittle and Evans are entering their age-33 seasons. Kirk will turn 30 in November.
All four -- plus Pearsall -- are sub-par on the durability scale. It would be farfetched to think that Stribling won't earn starts. Kirk has been the most likely domino to fall, as he's been frequently injured and in decline these past two years. Now that he's injured, the door is open for Stribling to seize a Week 1 starting role.
Three weeks ago, Stribling's ADP was WR68. Now it's somehow 100. The market has forgotten about him. Savvy managers shouldn't.
For a deeper dive on Stribling, listen to this podcast episode, along with this one from a few weeks earlier.

#stribling #along #injured

Mike Evans gives the San Francisco 49ers a legitimate No. 1 receiver for the first time in years, but Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr believes the move addresses two problems that go beyond the receiver room.
The first is Christian McCaffrey's rushing efficiency. San Francisco finished 30th in yards per carry last season — the first time a Kyle Shanahan-called offense has finished outside the top 10 in that stat since 2021. Orr connects that decline directly to how defenses have treated McCaffrey, who saw nearly 30% of his carries against eight-man boxes last year, one of the highest rates in the league.
Evans, Orr argues, should change that math. The 30-year-old drew double coverage on 35% of his routes last season, sixth-most among receivers league-wide. That kind of attention typically pulls a safety out of the box — and Orr believes teams have instead been shifting that extra defender toward stopping McCaffrey.
The idea is straightforward: if Evans forces a safety into coverage, the box in front of McCaffrey gets lighter, and the 49ers' rushing attack — long a staple of Shanahan's offense — gets back to functioning the way it has for most of his tenure.
The second point Orr raises is about time. The 49ers have the second-oldest roster in the NFL with the inclusion of Evans, so Orr suggested the signing means the 49ers think their championship window is closing at the same rate as the Los Angeles Rams', who went all-in this offseason with trades for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie.

#evans #mccaffrey #rushing

The San Francisco 49ers have two representatives on Fox Sports' 2020s NFL Half-Decade Team, with left tackle Trent Williams and inside linebacker Fred Warner earning spots on the star-studded roster of top players.
Both Williams and Warner have been with San Francisco for the entirety of the six years being measured — Williams via a 2020 trade from the Washington Commanders, and Warner as a homegrown product of the 49ers' 2018 draft class.
Williams has arguably been the best left tackle in the NFL since arriving in the Bay Area, earning three first-team All-Pro nods from 2021-23 and a second-team selection last season. His run atop the position has been remarkably sustained, spanning nearly the entire half-decade as well as seven Pro Bowls before 2020.
Warner, meanwhile, leads all inside linebackers with four first-team All-Pro selections since the start of 2020, edging out Baltimore's Roquan Smith, who has three. Before missing 11 games last season due to an ankle injury in 2025, Warner made four All-Pro teams in the previous five seasons, recording at least 125 tackles in each of those years and totaling 38 pass breakups over that stretch.
One notable absence from San Francisco's group was running back Christian McCaffrey. It's a jarring omission given his peak dominance and Offensive Player of the Year-caliber seasons with the 49ers, but Derrick Henry, the lone running back selected, has been far more durable than McCaffrey over the same window. Henry has rushed for at least 1,100 yards in five of six seasons, missing that mark only in 2021 when he played through injury and still topped 900 yards. McCaffrey, by contrast, has dealt with significant injury trouble at multiple points in his 49ers tenure.

#team #injury #francisco #henry

CBS Sports kept the San Francisco 49ers' quarterback-running back-wide receiver trio at No. 8 in its updated positional group rankings, even after swapping in newly signed Mike Evans for the injured George Kittle.
Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey remain the other two-thirds of the group, which posted an average ranking of 8.3 among CBS Sports voters, with a high mark of fifth and a low mark of 12th. The 49ers were the first team in the rankings to draw any top-five votes, a sign of the ceiling evaluators see in the trio when healthy and clicking within Kyle Shanahan's system.
San Francisco is one of just two teams — along with Cleveland — that stayed in the exact same spot on the list as last year, despite swapping Kittle out for Evans following Kittle's Achilles injury. CBS Sports once again noted the difficulty in ranking the group, pointing to multiple variables that make projecting the trio's output a challenge.
Not only do you have to disentangle their players from the Kyle Shanahan system, you also have to figure out how to feel about injury issues at multiple spots... as well as the gap between McCaffrey's rushing efficiency and his prowess as a receiver out of the backfield.
Purdy missed extended time a season ago, and questions about his availability remain part of the calculus. McCaffrey, meanwhile, continues to draw scrutiny over the split between his rushing production and his effectiveness as a pass-catcher, even as he remains one of the most versatile backs in the league when on the field.

Before the release of ADPs four months ago, I discussed the 49ers’ biggest fantasy bargain, bust, and wild card. Where do things stand as we approach the first preseason games?
Give it up for Jordan James (RB64 ADP) and rookie Kaelon Black (RB68). One of these two guys will almost certainly be a significant bargain—much hinges on how they look these next few weeks. The rest hinges on whether Christian McCaffrey can stay on the field (more on that in a moment). Both youngsters have one college season of workhorse usage under their belts. In other words, either one presumably could carry the load if needed.
McCaffrey is a clear-cut bust based on historical data showing massive injury and/or regressions for 400+ touch RBs the following season. McCaffrey’s risks are compounded by the fact that he hit 450 touches and is now 30 years old -- oh, and that he suffered similar fates in his two other 400+ touch campaigns. In that far-reaching context, his RB3 ADP makes no sense.
Ricky Pearsall (RB45 ADP) is the biggest wild card. The former first-round pick could become Brock Purdy’s #1 target. He’s also just as likely to miss several games and/or struggle for consistency in a packed receiving corps. His outcome will affect the outcomes of Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, and rookie De’Zhaun Stribling.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Biggest 49ers fantasy bargain, bust, and wild card based on ADP

One of the big talking points of the San Francisco 49ers' offseason revolves around running back Christian McCaffrey. While the star player is healthy and ready to roll in Year 10, head coach Kyle Shanahan has talked about lessening the veteran's workload in 2026, which means more work for whomever takes the RB2 role this year.
That position battle is one of the more intriguing ones of the offseason, but NBC Sports Bay Area's Jennifer Lee Chan believes third-round rookie Kaelon Black is at an advantage in taking the backup role to help spell McCaffrey because he is built similarly to the 49ers starter.
She noted that McCaffrey's 2025 backup, Brian Robinson Jr. doesn't have the same skillset McCaffrey does and therefore couldn't execute the offense to the same degree when the 49ers wanted to give their starter a break.
"So, when Kyle Shanahan would call plays and Christian McCaffrey wasn't out there, they were trying to give him a break, I think more than once, Kyle Shanahan was like, 'He's got to go back in there,'" she said. "Now, I think this year, having Kaelon Black, I mean, he's a guy who we've seen already through OTAs catching passes. He's not a huge guy, but what we've seen so far is that his catch radius is pretty good. I mean, I've seen him make a couple of fingertip catches already through OTAs. Maybe passes that weren't completely on target, but he's gone for them and hauled them in. So, he's going to become, I mean, it looks like, a reliable pass catcher also as you know, who's a running back as well."
McCaffrey put together an MVP-caliber campaign last season, but it came at a steep price with a grueling 413 total touches. As the 49ers look to preserve their superstar back for another deep postseason run, the battle for the RB2 spot has become the most critical storyline of the summer. Enter rookie Kaelon Black, who is quickly emerging as a fascinating solution to the team's backfield depth issues.

The Seattle Seahawks' offensive line showcased terrific growth in 2025. That improvement was a massive reason why the Seahawks won Super Bowl 60. Heading into the 2026 NFL season, we've ranked all four offensive lines in the NFC West division from best to worst.
The Seahawks' offensive line was a legitimate ***** et last season and they return all five starters in 2026. Position coach John Benton was also retained despite offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak leaving for the Las Vegas Raiders. From left to right, Charles Cross, Grey Zabel, Jalen Sundell, Anthony Bradford and Abe Lucas should form a formidable starting five once again.
Future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams returns to the San Francisco 49ers after an offseason contract dispute. Dominick Puni has already signed a lucrative extension and the 49ers have an answer at right tackle in Colton McKivitz. This is a well-balanced unit for Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey.
The Los Angeles Rams have two high-quality guards in Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson. Both tackle spots are questionable (Alaric Jackson, Warren McClendon Jr.). The Rams are a complete roster, but the offensive line has some question marks.
Paris Johnson Jr. has developed into a franchise left tackle for the Arizona Cardinals. They also just drafted starting right guard Chase Bisontis with an early second-round pick. The Cardinals are getting better on the offensive line, but they are still a rebuilding unit.

The Seattle Seahawks underwent significant changes at running back this offseason. They lost Super Bowl 60 MVP Kenneth Walker III to free agency and replaced him by drafting Jadarian Price. The NFC West has some very competitive backfields throughout the division. Heading into the 2026 NFL season, we've ranked all four backfields in the division from best to worst.
A healthy Christian McCaffrey is still arguably the best running back in the league. The dual-threat playmaker has been a cheat code for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. When available, McCaffrey is an annual Offensive Player of the Year candidate.
The rebuilding Arizona Cardinals wouldn't rank highly on most division-based lists, but their running back room is undeniably in good shape. Veteran James Conner is still impactful. The Cardinals drafted Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 overall. Love was arguably the best overall prospect in the 2026 NFL draft. Before drafting him, they also signed Tyler Allgeier in free agency. This backfield has three-headed monster potential.
Kyren Williams has firmly established himself as a top-10 back in the NFL. The former Notre Dame standout has rushed for 1,000+ yards in three straight seasons. Blake Corum rushed for 746 yards and six touchdowns last year, proving he's one of the better handcuffs in the NFL.
The unknown factor surrounding the Seahawks' backfield has them currently ranking last in the division. Will Jadarian Price be an effective rookie? When will Zach Charbonnet be healthy and available? How involved will George Holani be? The Seahawks have questions at running back heading into camp.

Last season, 17 NFL running backs rushed for at least 1,000 yards and it further illustrates that the value of the running back position is increasing across the league. Having said that, the number of true feature backs in the league who don't split carries with another back and are the workhorse are somewhat rare.
This trait is what sets these 12 backs from the rest. Guys who carry the water for their respective team's rushing attacks, impact the passing game and rarely come off the field. As for the Pittsburgh Steelers running back tandem of Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, they are talented backs and should do well this season but don't crack this list.
No back in the NFL brings what Bijan Robinson does in the NFL. Robinson played a league-best 860 snaps and is the true workhorse back in the league. Robinson just glides with the football and his effortless in making big plays. The Falcons will once again run everything through Robinson as he maintains his spot as the best back in the NFL.
Gibbs takes the No. 2 spot here because he's so electric with football in his hands and is one of the best in the league at taking over games when the Lions need him. We actually expect Gibbs to improve on his 1,223 rushing yards in 2025.
If Christian McCaffrey could stay healthy for a full season, he might be the No. 1 back in the NFL. However, when he's on the field, he's lightning in a bottle and maybe the best dual-threat running abck in the league.

Brody ******* ila, the 6’9”, 255 lb. prep lefthanded pitcher out of Massachusetts who throws over 100 mph, has a damaged UCL, per multiple reports. ******* ila had internal brace surgery on his elbow last May, and returned to throw as well as ever for much of the spring, though a decline in both velocity and command in his final few starts raised concerns about his health. Those concerns, it turns out, were valid.
I had debated about whether to do a draft write-up on ******* ila, as the Rangers have generally stayed away from high school pitchers in recent years. However, I’ve seen him mentioned as a possibility with the Rangers a couple of times — including in the June 29 BA mock draft — and you have to think the Rangers’ president of baseball operations has a soft spot for giant pitchers who also play basketball (Bumila led his high school team to the state championship this year).
Bumila is a good athlete for his size, and has shown good ability to throw strikes and repeat his delivery for a prep pitcher with his build. He has a relatively low arm slot and great extension, which makes his fastball play up and gives him good rising movement at the top of the zone. His secondaries, though, are way behind his fastball. Jen McCaffrey has a write-up on him for the Athletic that came out today, hours before the news of his UCL injury came out.
Bumila had gone from a likely first rounder to someone who could slip into the second round, based on the reports from the prognosticators, even before the news of the UCL damage. The fact that ******* ila will likely need UCL surgery — either another internal brace surgery or Tommy John surgery — is likely to exacerbate that slide.
Bumila is a University of Texas commit, and so has the opportunity to play for a top team in one of the top conferences if he doesn’t end up getting signed by a drafting team. However, he’d most likely be sitting out all of the 2027 baseball season for the Longhorns with a medical redshirt. He’d also be running a risk in regards to whether, and how well, he’d come back after two elbow injuries, with the possibility of getting a lower payday after three (or more) years in college. You also have the uncertainty surrounding the future of the draft — if you’re a high school player who is being offered top two round money right now, you have to consider the possibility that the landscape and bonus structure for the 2029 draft could look much different than it does now.

Seven San Francisco 49ers found spots on ESPN's newly unveiled "Domestic Cup of American Football," an exercise from ***** yst Bill Barnwell inspired by the World Cup that splits the NFL into eight regional squads based on where players attended high school.
The idea, detailed on ESPN.com, borrows its premise from a rugby tradition overseas. Barnwell built 30-man rosters for California, Texas and Florida as standalone teams, plus five additional regional groupings, then applied rules on injuries, retirements and positional needs to keep things realistic for a hypothetical September tournament.
The 49ers' footprint spans three of those teams. On the California roster, linebacker Fred Warner and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir both made the cut. The Southwest team landed the 49ers' backfield tandem, with quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey both suiting up.
Edge rusher Nick Bosa represents San Francisco on the Florida roster, joining an edge-rushing group Barnwell called the state's deepest position group in the entire tournament. Left tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Mike Evans both landed on Texas, with Evans slotting in as the fourth receiver behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, CeeDee Lamb and Garrett Wilson, and Williams anchoring the tackle spot alongside Eagles star Lane Johnson.
Kittle was the notable 49er left off any roster, a byproduct of Barnwell's rule tying eligibility to players expected to be healthy for a September start. Kittle is still working back from the torn Achilles that ended his 2025 season.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was asked to do more than just about any player at his position in the league last year, as he carried the ball 311 times and was targeted another 129 times.
In total, McCaffrey rushed for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns on 3.9 yards per attempt and caught 102 passes for an additional 924 yards and seven scores in 17 games.
That effort made McCaffrey the top-scoring player in fantasy football last year, totaling 416.6 points (24.5 per game) in PPR leagues.
While McCaffrey's 2025 campaign was remarkable, Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport predicts that San Francisco's top running back will be a bust for fantasy football purposes in 2026.
"In terms of average draft position, Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers is the third running back off fantasy draft boards and the sixth pick overall," Davenport wrote. "The average statistical decline for running backs who eclipse 370 touches in a season since 2016 is about 48 percent. The average statistical decline for running backs who have topped 2,000 total yards in a season since 2010 is over 50 percent.

After Kyle Pitts got his three-year, $54 million deal signed on Tuesday, the next man in line to get paid by the Atlanta Falcons is likely star running back Bijan Robinson. Contract talks are reportedly ongoing and when they have concluded Robinson is expected to be the highest-paid running back in the NFL, even ahead of Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey.
There's good reason for that, because Robinson is probably on the verge of a statistical explosion in 2026. With Tyler Allgeier now in Arizona, Robinson should be on-pace for a heavier load of carries and touches than he had been getting the previous three years.
The latest evidence for this comes from Josh Kendall at The Athletic, whose latest roster projection for this coming season has the Falcons only carrying three running backs (Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr., plus Tyler Goodson), which is great news for Bijan's fantasy owners, among other things.
"The Browns only kept two running backs on their initial 53-man roster last year under Stefanski, but the idea of having just two feels light for this team. The top two are set and in order, with Bijan Robinson expected to get the lion’s share of the carries and Brian Robinson stepping into the Tyler Allgeier fill-in role. Goodson is a three-year veteran with 304 special teams snaps in the last two seasons. That special teams experience gives him an edge on Nathan Carter."
Three running backs may sound a little bit light given how important the run is against the heavy trend of two-safety sets, but the Falcons can always elevate one from the practice squad if they need to.

The Seahawks, 49ers, Rams, and Cardinals have a combined 13 players inside the top 100 overall ADP. These guys are, of course, must-draft options. But who are some under-the-radar breakout candidates?
In 2024, Minnesota's Sam Darnold was the QB9 with 308 fantasy points. After shifting to Seattle last season, he averaged four fewer pass attempts per game but finished as QB14 with a respectable 235.4 points. His floor probably can't go much lower, as only three teams threw less than the Seahawks. His QB24 / overall-139 ADP suggests a disastrous campaign. In reality, he's a strong bet to crush expectations.
30-year-old Christian McCaffrey is coming off a 450-touch campaign (including the playoffs). Based on historical data, he is a long shot to come remotely close to last year's volume and production. Jordan James (RB64 / overall-202 ADP) and third-round rookie Kaelon Black (RB68 / overall-220 ADP) are well-positioned to be weekly fantasy starters if McCaffrey misses time. Whoever wins the Niners' handcuff job is primed to bust out.
The Rams' highest-ranked tight end is Colby Parkinson (TE30 / overall-206 ADP). But 2025 second-rounder Terrance Ferguson is right behind (TE31 / overall-210 ADP). The former is a safe pick. The latter possesses a top-20 ceiling and long-term top-12 potential. We caught a glimpse of Ferguson's upside late last season, when he posted a 3-33-1 receiving line in Week 16, followed by 2-54-1 in Week 17. An ugly catch rate (12 receptions on 31 targets, including the playoffs) is a yellow flag, but not enough of a flag to overlook his impressive ceiling.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Sam Darnold among 3 potential NFC West breakout fantasy players

Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers are going through a very public divorce. But, in the eyes of the NFL, they are very much still together.
That's because the 49ers, even after taking measures to void the guaranteed money owed to him in 2026, have yet to release the former All-Pro. Aiyuk missed the entire 2025 season due to injury, his first after signing a four-year, $120 million contract extension. His absence at rehab sessions led to an impasse with the team and, eventually, a loud declaration to the rest of the league that the differences between team and player were irreconcilable.
Since we're beyond June 1, San Francisco can trade or release Aiyuk without incurring a massive dead salary cap hit. While a swap is likely out of the question due to scheduled cap hits of more than $40 million the next two seasons, cutting the former first round pick would allow both sides to get a fresh start. The Niners haven't made their move yet, so Aiyuk has been not-so-subtly pressuring them on social media.
Two weeks ago, it was criticizing management in a since-deleted video. Now it's an Instagram story where he says "go Commanders" a whole bunch.
Washington would be a logical fit for the 28-year-old. He shared an offense with current Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels at Arizona State in 2019 -- the same season that boosted Aiyuk into a Day 1 draft slot. Daniels backslid in 2025 after his rookie of the year campaign in 2024 thanks in part to a limited receiving corps. Terry McLaurin remains the alpha in the Washington passing offense, but behind him is a mix of guys like Luke McCaffrey, Dyami Brown and Treylon Burks. Even a diminished Aiyuk could play a significant role as a downfield threat.

Were the Washington Commanders doing something weird or not weird in their mandatory minicamp?
Grant Paulsen of "Grant & Danny" of 106.7 The Fan, inquired of former Washington tight end Logan Paulsen, "There was a weird way going about practice, where the starters were asked to do one thing but the backups were doing more? What can you tell us about that?"
Logan Paulsen replied: "When I first got to Washington, I think it was 2012, we used to do split field practice," he said. "The No. 2 offense would go against the No. 1 defense, and the No. 1 offense would go against the No. 2 defense. So, this felt similar to that. They went through a one-on-one, kind of walk-through setting, where you can rep more specifically, like the communication combinations. It felt like it was a way to protect that big boy, varsity group, while letting the younger guys, the guys that need to prove themselves more, go with live bullets in that other section of practice. So, I think it serves as an opportunity to keep the big boys safe, the guys that you know are going to be part of the team. And it lets the young guys develop their craft and get some work."
LP was on to something here. Why, at this stage, when you are not even in training camp yet, would you need to give the most active reps to the older, proven veterans? Why wouldn't you give those reps to those who need to develop, those who still need to prove themselves? Why not prep those guys more to see how they respond in training camp when the intensity and pads get turned on to a higher level?
So, for example, LP continued to point out that receivers Jaylin Lane (Year 2) and Luke McCaffrey (Year 3) had some nice catches/reps this week. LP affirmed, "It gives that young group more opportunity, which I can attest to, having done this before, is really helpful in terms of development."

NFL fans love to buy San Francisco 49ers gear.
The 49ers led all NFL franchises with five players featured on the newly released NFL Players ******* ociation (NFLPA) year-end top 50 player sales list, reflecting strong retail demand for the team’s biggest stars.
Running back Christian McCaffrey led the 49ers' group at No. 12, followed closely by quarterback Brock Purdy at No. 18. Tight end George Kittle ranked No. 23, linebacker Fred Warner placed No. 25, and defensive lineman Nick Bosa rounded out the team's appearances at No. 48.
Within their respective positions, the 49ers' selections feature prominently. Kittle finished as the league's top-selling tight end, while Bosa earned the No. 1 spot among defensive linemen. McCaffrey and Warner both ranked second at their positions—trailing only Saquon Barkley among running backs and Micah Parsons among linebackers, respectively. Purdy finished as the 10th highest-selling quarterback on the list.
This list of players makes sense, as it more or less reflects how big each one is both for the 49ers and in the NFL at large. McCaffrey is one of the league's top offensive stars, Purdy is a star quarterback, Kittle is recongized face and name, Warner is perhaps the best inside linebacker in the league and Bosa was a highly-drafted pick who is one of the best at his craft.

Craig Breslow Doesn't Believe Red Sox Need To 'Prove Their Worth' originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox are already making calls around the league on player availability for potential trades, with a preference to add a right-handed batter to their struggling lineup.
Though Boston's lineup needs improvement if the team hopes to make a return to the playoffs this season, it will be interesting to see how things shake out as the MLB trade deadline approaches. The Red Sox sit at the bottom of the AL East at 27-36, but are only a few games out of a wild card spot.
With how poorly this season has gone for Boston, there have been questions about whether the team will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. Despite this, Red Sox's chief baseball officer Craig Breslow doesn't believe the team has to "prove their worth" to become buyers at the deadline.
“I don’t think it’s a ‘prove’ type thing,” Breslow said on Friday, per Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. “I have a lot of confidence in the players that we have. I’ve seen the way that they’ve grown together, that they’ve taken to the work. They’re committed to doing everything they can to turn this around in the same way that we are.

Red Sox reportedly taking trade calls on three relievers, including Aroldis Chapman originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox are 27-35 in the regular season, and while it's a poor record, they're still in the hunt for the postseason.
But, if things go south from now until the August 3 trade deadline, Craig Breslow and the Red Sox might not have any other choice but to sell some of their ****** ets this summer. If they do, the bullpen is one area to watch.
Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic is reporting that the Red Sox have already fielded trade calls on three relievers, one of which being superstar closer Aroldis Chapman.
"The Red Sox are shopping Wong in particular, according to a league source, and have also fielded calls on relievers Aroldis Chapman, Justin Slaten and Garrett Whitlock," McCaffrey writes.

Red Sox reportedly shopping .713 OPS catcher in trade talks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox might not be having the best season overall, but thanks to the shaky American League postseason field, it's entirely possible the 27-35 Red Sox go on a run and make the postseason.
But this team does need to add a bit of help to the roster this summer by the deadline if they seriously want to contend. Looking at their options, it's clear that a right-handed-hitting infielder would be the best option possible.
According to The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey, the Red Sox, in pursuit of such a right-handed slugger, are reportedly shopping .713 OPS veteran catcher Connor Wong in trade talks this summer already.
"With three catchers on the big-league roster - Carlos Narvaez, Connor Wong and Mickey Gasper - Boston's surplus is drawing interest," McCaffrey writes. "The Red Sox are shopping Wong in particular, according to a league source."

The Washington Commanders had some specific goals during the offseason. Make the defense younger and faster, and find someone to take the pressure off of Terry McLaurin. General manager Adam Peters can check the first one off his list, while the latter is still up in the air.
The Commanders' wide receivers' room includes Treylon Burks, Dyami Brown, Antonio Williams, Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane, and Van Jefferson, with McLaurin as the undisputed WR1. The other receivers, though, have been named a position battle to watch during the offseason.
Commanders wide receiver: Treylon Burks vs. Dyami Brown vs. Antonio Williams vs. Luke McCaffrey vs. Jaylin Lane vs. Van Jefferson
Washington has struggled with WR depth behind Terry McLaurin for years now. Last year's solution -- Deebo Samuel -- remains a free agent as the Commanders search for a more dynamic alternative. A free agent or trade (Brandon Aiyuk?) could still fill the spot, but the Commanders need someone to emerge from this smattering of veterans and recent middle-round picks. Williams, the 2026 third-rounder, is the one to watch with his high ceiling and inside/outside versatility.
First, let's address the Brandon Aiyuk situation. Even if the San Francisco 49ers decide to release him, they haven't yet, which means that no other NFL team knows how he is doing physically, or if he's in any kind of game shape. No one will know that until he reports for a physical. On top of not knowing where he stands physically, the 49ers can essentially hold him hostage for however long they see fit, giving him minimal time to prepare with whichever team he lands with.

The Carolina Panthers cut bait with outside linebacker DJ Johnson, one of the biggest draft busts in franchise history, over eight months ago. But somehow, their decision to move up and select him back in 2023 was made to look even worse this week.
Between Tuesday and Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers gladly handed over contract extensions to pass rusher Nick Herbig and tight end Darnell Washington. Herbig inked a pretty massive four-year, $100 million pact while Washington struck a cool four-year, $42 million agreement.
So, what do they have to do with Johnson and the Panthers?
Well, Herbig and Washington landed in Pittsburgh thanks, in large part, to the trade former Carolina general manager Scott Fitterer made to take Johnson. Fitterer sent the Steelers the 93rd and 132nd overall picks of that draft in exchange for the 80th—which would be used on the very raw 25-year-old defender.
Pittsburgh then scooped up Washington with No. 93 and Herbig with No. 132. (Those picks, by the way, were initially acquired by the Panthers in their trade of superstar running back Christian McCaffrey.)

The Washington Commanders returned to the practice field on Tuesday for the second week of OTAs. Head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator David Blough spoke to the media before practice.
It was another chance for quarterback Jayden Daniels to take snaps under center in Blough's new offense. Most importantly, the OTAs are an opportunity for some of Washington's current wide receivers to separate themselves ahead of training camp. And, according to Zach Selby of commanders.com, Luke McCaffrey and Treylon Burks are among those standing out.
Before practice, Quinn told the media to watch Washington's speed at multiple positions.
"A couple of things you'll see today, first off, you'll see speed, and that's I think one thing that should jump out to you at a number of different spots," Quinn said.
So, what else happened during Tuesday's OTAs? Courtesy of the Washington media in attendance in Ashburn, here is a collection of videos and photos from practice.

“Got to Do a Better Job”: 49ers Coach Confirms Plans to Restrict Christian McCaf...

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has grown into one of the most consistent performers in the NFL. If the star running back were to enter free agency, everyone needing a boost in their rushing attack would jump at the chance. But despite the huge upside he brings, McCaffrey is one of the senior players in the league. Even though the RB is in his prime in terms of performance, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak is planning to make a tough decision.
“It is challenging, because you’re talking about a player who does not want to come off the field,” Kubiak said about the McCaffrey situation. “But when you look around the league, and you study great backs, and you study guys who affect the game like he does, those guys do come out of the game. Those guys do get a blow sometimes. Whether it’s a drive or a couple plays in a series, it helps those players.
“Christian knows that, and we got to do a better job as coaches. We got to do a better job at times of getting a better rotation. We got back young backs that we want to get more production out of.
Kubiak’s comments come after McCaffrey led the NFL with 413 touches last season and rushed for 1,202 yards in the regular season. He also had an NFL-high 339 touches in 2023 while ranking second in the league in yards per carry (5.4). And, McCaffrey was the Offensive Player of the Year that season. He’s going to turn 30 this year, but he remains an anchor in the Niners’ run game. But, this is also the age when RBs of his caliber start phasing out.
Usually, they become limited by their own physicality, being weakened with age. McCaffrey already missed 13 games in 2024 after suffering a pedal Achilles sprain and a knee PCL sprain. He won the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2025 for playing as if he’d never missed a beat. But the bigger question is about McCaffrey being sustainable as the leading rusher for the team post-30. Coaches will eventually have to swallow the tough pill of forcing such players to the background.

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With most season-long Fantasy leagues now complete, daily Fantasy football takes an even bigger spotlight during the Week 18 NFL schedule. The first slate comes on Saturday as Panthers vs. Buccaneers (-2.5, 44) is a 4:30 p.m. ET and Seahawks vs. 49ers (+1.5, 49.5) is at 8 p.m. ET. Both games carry heavy implications for the NFL playoff picture, so you don't have to worry about starters resting or teams holding back on this slate.
With big names like Christian McCaffrey, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rico Dowdle and Bucky Irving in the NFL DFS player pool, how should you craft your NFL DFS lineups? Befo