NFL: NFC Wild Card Round-San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles
Jan 11, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle before action against the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC Wild Card Round game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
When the San Francisco 49ers meet up with the Los Angeles Rams for their showdown in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday night, tight end George Kittle, wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling and quarterback Brock Purdy will all be in action.
That’s right, Kittle is going to suit up. The superstar tight end has successfully completed his return from a torn Achilles and it took him one day under eight months to do it.
Stribling will be making his NFL debut against the Rams after an impressive offseason, and Purdy begins a campaign he hopes brings better health than last year.
Now, for the important question: should Kittle, Purdy and/or Stribling be in your fantasy football lineup in Week 1? Let’s find out.
MORE: Most popular fantasy football team names ranked for 2026
De’Zhaun Stribling start or sit advice
NFL: San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Chargers
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De’zhaun Stribling (15) attempts to catch a pass over Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Deane Leonard (33) during the first quarter at SoFi Stadium. Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
One of the toughest things to figure out in fantasy football is how a rookie will perform in his first NFL game.
We can immediately toss college production out the window because we know that means nothing. Great college players fail in the pros all the time.
We do know that De’Zhaun Stribling looked very good in training camp, and he had a strong preseason with 11 catches on 13 targets for 109 yards over two games and 24 total snaps.
MORE: Fantasy football rankings for Week 1
Even still, we can’t help but be hesitant to start Stribling in his debut, partly because of the unpredictability a rookie brings, and partly because Stribling has a good amount of competition for targets with Deebo Samuel, Mike Evans and George Kittle.
The safest bet is sitting the rookie and waiting to see how things play out.
Verdict: Sit
George Kittle start or sit advice
NFL: Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) watches from the sideline before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium. Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Kittle has officially been cleared to play after he was removed from San Francisco’s injury report on whatever day it is in Australia.
The concern now is that Kittle might have a limited snap count in his first game back from a torn Achilles’ tendon.
“We got to be smart with that,” coach Kyle Shanahan said of Kittle’s and Nick Bosa’s workload in Week 1. “They both look great and stuff, but we also definitely have to be smart with that.”
MORE: IDP fantasy football rankings at DL, LB, DB for NFL Week 1
While we absolutely detest these kinds of situations, it shouldn’t really matter in this instance.
Kittle ranked tied for TE2 overall in fantasy points per game last season and is very much still an elite tight end. Even at the risk of limited snaps, he must be in lineups.
Verdict: Start
Brock Purdy start or sit advice
NFL: Melbourne Game-San Francisco 49ers Practice
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) at practice at AAMI Park. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Matchups against the Rams have not been favorable for Purdy in the past.
In three games against his division rival, Purdy has completed 61.6% of his passes for 640 yards and three touchdowns to one pick.
That amounts to an uninspiring stat line of 213.3 passing yards, one touchdown and 0.3 interceptions per contest.
MORE: Fantasy football studs and duds in Week 1
Now throw in the fact that the Rams switched out Jared Verse for Myles Garrett and added Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson in the cornerbacks room and there’s not much hope the 49ers signal-caller will fare better this time around.
We’re off Purdy in Week 1.
Verdict: Sit