Waiver: Demarcus Robinson added, Jaydon Blue dropped
Adds: Demarcus Robinson. Drops: Jaydon Blue
WR · SF · 31 yrs · exp 10 · Florida
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Latest: Sep 5, 2026 · 576
Stories linked to this player — newest first.
Adds: Demarcus Robinson. Drops: Jaydon Blue
Drops: Demarcus Robinson
Drops: Demarcus Robinson
Drops: Demarcus Robinson
Jordan Watkins, a 2025 fourth-round pick, had a busy preseason finale for the 49ers, recording a team-high eight targets with four receptions for 64 yards, along with 27 rushing yards and 62 return yards. Despite seeing significant preseason usage, Watkins is unlikely to make a fantasy impact this season due to a crowded wide receiver depth chart featuring players like Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel Sr., and Christian Kirk, and should be ignored in fantasy drafts
Adds: Demarcus Robinson
Many 49ers who are expected to play roles for the team this fall did not play on Thursday night, but rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling was on the field and the second-round pick took advantage of the opportunity. Stribling led the team with seven catches for 63 yards in a 19-13 loss to the Titans. All of Stribling’s catches came during the first half of the game, so he saw a lot of the Titans’ first-team defense while he was making plays. “I felt great out there ,” Stribling said, via 49ersWebzone.com. “It felt like I was really clicking with the offense, hearing in the huddle, lining up on the field. So I’m very grateful I had the opportunities and the passes that I did.” The 49ers signed Deebo Samuel after Ricky Pearsall’s season-ending knee injury and he joins Mike Evans and Demarcus Robinson on the top line of the team’s depth chart. Stribling may not knock anyone out of that position, but his draft status and productivity should continue to earn him looks heading into the season
Deebo Samuel has only been back with the 49ers for a short time, but he’s already back on top of the team’s depth chart. The 49ers released their first depth chart of the season on Tuesday and it shows Samuel alongside Mike Evans and Demarcus Robinson as the team’s top wideouts. Samuel’s spot was likely ticketed for 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall, but Pearsall is out for the season and the 49ers moved quickly to sign Samuel after he was shut down. Christian Kirk and 2026 second-rounder De’Zhaun Stribling head up the second line on the depth chart. Both of those receivers have joined Evans and Pearsall on the injury list at points this summer, which underscores how different the lineups could look on a weekly basis as bumps and bruises continue to accumulate. Samuel is also listed as the team’s top kickoff returner and history says that he’ll also see some time in the backfield, so the veteran should see plenty of action in his second tour with the Niners
Robinson has been working with the first-team offense in training camp due to multiple injuries to the 49ers' wide receiver corps, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reports. Ricky Pearsall will miss the entire 2026 season due to a PCL injury that requires surgery. Mike Evans (quad) and Christian Kirk (calf) have also been sidelined for training camp practices, and rookie second-rounder De'Zhaun Stribling missed a couple of sessions while tending to a hamstring issue. That's given Robinson the opportunity to work with the first-team offense, and a strong showing in training camp and preseason games could earn him a consistent role for the upcoming season. The veteran wideout is coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign, though he played a key role in the 49ers' NFC wild-card win over the Eagles in January, when he caught six catches (on seven targets) for 111 yards and a touchdown
Drops: Demarcus Robinson
Drops: Demarcus Robinson
Deebo Samuel, 30, is returning to the San Francisco 49ers on a one-year deal worth $7 million. The versatile wide receiver spent his first six seasons with the 49ers before playing for the Commanders last year. His return comes as the 49ers are facing wide receiver depth issues due to injuries to Ricky Pearsall and Christian Kirk. Samuel is expected to fill the 'Z' receiver role, with potential for a hybrid workload including backfield usage
At a time when a 49ers receiver badly wants to join the Commanders, a former Commanders receiver is rejoining the 49ers. Via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Deebo Samuel is returning to San Francisco . It’s a one-year deal worth up to $7 million. (The base value has not yet been disclosed.) A second-round pick of the 49ers in 2019, Samuel became a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in his third season, with 1,405 receiving yards and 365 passing yards in 2021. Things got ugly between Samuel and the 49ers in the 2022 offseason, with Samuel asking to be traded. He eventually signed a three-year, $73.5 million extension. Before the final year of the deal in 2025, the 49ers traded Samuel to the Commanders for a fifth-round pick. He also agreed to a reduced contract, with a $17 million base salary and up to $3 milion in incentives. With 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall’s season in doubt due to the lingering effects of a knee injury, the 49ers needed help at the position. Samuel joins a depth chart that includes Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, De’Zhaun Stribling, Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowling, and Demarcus Robinson. Samuel, 30, has one career 1,000-yard season. Last year in Washington, he caught 72 passes for 727 yards and five touchdowns
Adds: Demarcus Robinson. Drops: Roman Wilson
We are a few days away from the San Francisco 49ers’ entire team reporting to training camp. We’ll see how often Kyle Shanahan gives veterans like Trent Williams and Christian McCaffrey days off. We know players like Nick Bosa , George Kittle , and Mykel Williams are recovering from season-ending injuries. That opens the door for some other players on the roster to make a name for themselves and catch the eyes of the coaching staff. That’s especially true for the new faces on the roster. And there are plenty of those who will look to take advantage of potential openings. Whether that’s Christian Kirk at wide receiver, Robert Jones or Brett Toth at guard, Nate Hobbs in the secondary, or one of the undrafted free agent rookies added on defense, we can expect somebody to stand out. Last season, that was Demarcus Robinson . He was unguardable during training camp. You would have thought he was Brandon Aiyuk the way he was being talked about last August. Unfortunately, that summer success never came to fruition during the season. So, who will be the summer standout this year? My answer: Jacob Cowing In these practice settings, it tends to be the wide receiver, much like Robinson a year ago. I’ll go with the player who I think can carry over a strong training camp into the regular season. There will be veteran days off for Mike Evans during training camp and the preseason. That’ll open the door for other wideouts. So I’m going with Jacob Cowing, a guy who adds a speed dimension that the 49ers did not have a season ago. Ricky Pearsall tested extraordinarily well, but, to the eye test, Cowing plays faster than Pearsall. Cowing will be lined up in the slot and off the ball in advantageous matchups against a secondary that does not run well, at least compared to Cowing. Usage matters. Cowing will likely run deep crossing routes or routes with vertical stems. He may have a screen or two mixed in with an underneath route, but he’s a vertical threat. That’ll lead to big plays, splash plays, and “oohs and ahhs” from the crowd. That’ll show in preseason games, as will Cowing’s ability as a returner. He should get enough opportunities returning punts and kicks. It’s another area where Cowing can show off his speed and prove to the coaching staff that he can make an impact
With training camp approaching and the final cut-down date on August 30th, the San Francisco 49ers may make some surprising roster moves. Potential veterans on the chopping block include a consistent lineman and a 10-year wide receiver, as the team looks to integrate new free-agent signings and draft picks. A safety is also mentioned as a possible cut, depending on the development of younger players and potential offseason acquisitions
With training camp for the San Francisco 49ers beginning next month, the race for a spot on the 53-man roster will begin. For the 49ers, aside from a few spots, their starting defense and offense are set with multiple players returning from injury. Left guard and one spot on the defensive line in base downs come right to mind as available spots with the chance of a change at safety. With that in mind, which are the deepest and thinnest position groups for the 49ers? Deepest: Quarterback This answer feels like a cop out; however, the combination of Brock Purdy and Mac Jones helped the 49ers finish with 13 wins. It’s fair to wonder where the 49ers would have ended up in 2025 without Jones. Even with the impactful injuries, Jones kept the 49ers winning. Purdy played some of the best football of his career in 2025, but he has been injured during his time as the 49ers’ starter. Having someone like Jones is a huge safety net. Ideally, Jones would never have to take a snap unless the 49ers are involved in a blowout. Either way, the combination of Purdy and Jones is as good as it gets in the NFL. Honorable mention: Wide Receiver The addition of Mike Evans , De’Zhaun Stribling, and Christian Kirk has completely reshaped the receiver room. The reason the receiver group isn’t the deepest position group is the question mark behind Ricky Pearsall on the depth chart. Jordan Watkins ? Demarcus Robinson ? Jacob Cowing ? Thinnest: Linebacker Fred Warner is back and is the best linebacker in the NFL. Dre Greenlaw returned on a one-year deal, and the 49ers shipped Dee Winters to Dallas . The reason this group is ranked as the thinnest is the injury concerns for Greenlaw and the potential replacements. Tatum Bethune filled in as best as he could before his season ended. The 49ers had to turn to Garrett Wallow and Eric Kendricks in a pinch. If Greenlaw misses extended time, Nick Martin will likely fill in, but he has very little NFL experience. The issue with linebacker is much like many spots on the team for the 49ers. Unfortunately, you have to start any statement with “if they stay healthy.” For a longer and more detailed discussion around each position group, check out the video below with Niners Nation’s Andrew Pasquini
We knew the San Francisco 49ers would draft a wide receiver based on their pre-draft visits . Yet, despite not meeting with John Lynch or Kyle Shanahan, the team traded out of the first round to acquire a couple of more picks to select “their guy.” Not Omar Cooper Jr. Not KC Concepcion. Not Chris Bell. De’Zhaun Stribling. That’s right, the player who was being mocked in the fourth round for much of the draft cycle ended up being the Niners first selection. Think about the wide receivers the 49ers fielded last year. Demarcus Robinson , Jauan Jennings , and Kendrick Bourne — not exactly a group that was the fleetest of foot. The lack of separation hindered the offense in multiple ways. A Kyle Shanahan offense couldn’t stretch the field or win outside of the numbers. Now think about the 49ers using those players in the formation as run blockers. There is no world where Christian McCaffrey should only average 3.1 yards per carry rushing outside of the tackles. For reference, in 2023, McCaffrey averaged seven yards per carry outside of the tackles. Last season, that number was more than halved. And it wasn’t because of Colton McKivitz or Trent Williams . Enter a wideout whose father was in the military, who happens to be a shade over 6’2″ with hands creeping up on DeForest Buckner . Oh, and he runs a 4.3 40. Age: 23 Experience: Rookie Height: 6’2 Weight: 207 pounds The 49ers valued extra draft picks over a fifth-year option of Stribling. His protated signing bonus is $1.54 million over each of the next four seasons. Stribling’s cap number will never exceed $4.5 million during his rookie contract. The obvious comparison for Stribling is that he’ll be a 1-for-1 replacement for Jauan Jennings. To me, that’s selling him short. I think it’s more likely Stribling is closer to Deebo Samuel ’s production during his tenure with the Niners than Jennings. Deebo moved around the formation, lined up in the backfield, and saw his route tree evolve. That wasn’t the case with Jennings, who didn’t offer much outside of the numbers. Deebo hit the ground running as a rookie, albeit in a much different offense. Samuel had 959 yards from scrimmage during his first year with six touchdowns. Samuel accomplished that without needing a ton of volume, which is a good sign if we’re projecting numbers for Stribling. The rookie will be behind Mike Evans , Ricky Pearsall , George Kittle , and Christian McCaffrey on the receiving totem pole. But his skill set should keep Stribling on the field. Stribling can run the deep in-breaking routes that the offense couldn’t run last season. He’s also a threat on back-shoulder fades. Ole Miss used Stribling occasionally on jet sweeps. That’s part of the playbook that was crossed off last season. When you break it down to the different areas the 49ers couldn’t attack last season, it’s pretty easy to see why they went out and drafted a player like Stribling. He gets to learn under Evans, and is also insurance if the top two wideouts get hurt. Speaking of, Stribling doesn’t have an extensive injury history. His availability is another trait that made him attractive to the 49ers. Stribling broke his left wrist during Oklahoma State’s bye week in 2023. But outside of that, he was durable during his collegiate days. The Niners are hoping that continues as a pro, so they can lean on his height-weight-speed combo in both the running and passing games. Predict Stribling’s rookie stat line below
At various points in 2025, the San Francisco 49ers offense was carried by Brock Purdy , Kyle Shanahan, and Christian McCaffrey . Injuries took a toll on both sides of the ball, but there were times when Mac Jones was throwing the football to Jake Tonges , Demarcus Robinson , and Kendrick Bourne . The constants were Shanahan and McCaffrey. Although McCaffrey didn’t run efficiently, he more than made up for it with his receiving ability. Oftentimes, it was the CMC show, and when Purdy returned, the offense took off as the 49ers ripped off wins before clinching a playoff berth. The trio of Shanahan, Purdy, and McCaffrey simply needs to return to the form of 2025 for the 49ers offense to put up points. There is no predicting injuries in the NFL, but what if I told you the most important 49ers weapon is Mike Evans in 2026? Let’s get the obvious out of the way: nobody is more important to the 49ers’ success than the quarterback. McCaffrey will be leaned on again without proven, reliable depth behind him. Shanahan’s playcalling is the ultimate advantage for the 49ers. However, Evans is the most important weapon, given the questions around Ricky Pearsall , the newest weapons, and George Kittle heading into 2026. When the 49ers take on the Rams in Australia in Week 1, Evans needs to hit the ground running. Los Angeles loaded up on cornerbacks; Evans has to tip the scales back to the 49ers. The skill set of the former Buccaneers great and Purdy should blend seamlessly. Throughout 2026, Evans has to be a constant and a rock for the offense. Now, let’s envision the worst-case scenario and McCaffrey misses games in 2026. Shanahan has been able to create a running game with other running backs, so Jordan James or Kaelon Black will be put in a position to succeed. However, it would fall on Evans to carry more of the workload and become the red zone weapon that McCaffrey was. Unfortunately, the 49ers can’t have a slow start from Evans. Of course, optimism is high for Pearsall in year three, the return of Kittle, and the infusion of rookie De’Zhaun Stribling and veteran Christian Kirk , but there are questions surrounding them all. Evans has to be a constant force for the offense. The veteran will be looked to for guidance by the younger receivers, but more for instant production. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding Evans during the season, the future Hall of Famer is vital and imperative to the 49ers’ offense and success. The match between Evans, Purdy, and Shanahan’s offense is a dream. The results must bear themselves out immediately and throughout the 2026 season. For a longer discussion and other players who need to step up in 2026, Steph Sanchez and I discuss at length in the video below:
Robinson is a proven journeyman at this stage of his career, now entering his age-32 season with San Francisco after posting a 22-276-1 line across 14 games for the 49ers in 2025. He did flash within coach Kyle Shanahan's system during the wild-card win over Philadelphia, recording a 6-111-1 performance while showing chemistry with QB Brock Purdy. On a weekly basis, Robinson projects for a reserve role, with the ability to step in if injuries arise. However, Mike Evans, Ricky Pearsall, Christian Kirk and rookie second-rounder De'Zhaun Stribling all appear firmly ahead of him on the WR depth chart, leaving limited room for consistent offensive involvement
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