sports

49ers QB Brock Purdy, Kittle injury key fantasy questions

Brock Purdy remains a top fantasy QB for the 49ers, but George Kittle's Achilles injury and the open WR room raise questions about the team's offensive upside for 2026.

Brock Purdy has been the 49ers' most reliable fantasy quarterback, leading the league in catchable target rate and yards per attempt. With George Kittle sidelined by an Achilles tear, the team's WR room is open, and players like Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings could emerge as breakout options in late August drafts.

In Carolina, the Panthers face a similar dilemma at RB1. Rico Dowdle's early 2025 surge was eclipsed by Chuba Hubbard's emergence, and Dowdle's low contract makes him a free‑agent target in March. Fantasy managers must decide whether to gamble on Dowdle or wait for a draft pick.