San Francisco 49ers — 2026 Fantasy Outlook

The case for drafting him

The 2023 season is the argument. San Francisco posted 48 sacks, 22 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles, and allowed only 298 points against that year. That is a historically productive DST stat line, and it shows the ceiling this unit can reach. The three-year averages still carry some of that weight: 34.7 sacks, 13 interceptions, and 12 forced fumbles per season across 2023-2025. If the unit trends back toward that 2023 form, the fantasy production follows. A bye in Week 8 is manageable, and the raw talent on this roster has not disappeared.

What the model projects

The projection is 104.8 half-PPR fantasy points. The draft value sits at -41.0, meaning the projection lands below replacement level at the DST position in a 12-team half-PPR format. That places San Francisco at DST23 and #179 overall, inside Tier 9.

The range of outcomes

The recent trend in the underlying stats tells the story of the variance here. Sacks fell from 48 in 2023 to 36 in 2024 to 20 in 2025. Interceptions dropped from 22 to 11 to 6 over the same span. Points allowed climbed from 298 to 436 to 371. The three-year averages sit at 34.7 sacks, 13 interceptions, and 368.3 points allowed per season. A rebound toward the 2023 numbers would push this unit well above the current projection. A continuation of the 2025 trajectory keeps it firmly in replacement-level or worse territory. Fumble recoveries have actually held up, averaging 7.3 per season and reaching 10 in 2025, so there is at least one positive trend in the recent data.

How to draft him

San Francisco is not being drafted consistently enough across platforms to carry a market ADP. That tells you this unit is a late-draft or waiver-wire target in most public leagues right now. At DST23 and #179 overall in Tier 9, the projection does not support spending meaningful draft capital here. The standard approach is to let the draft play out, address every other position first, and circle back to San Francisco only if the 2023-style upside appeals to you as a late-round dart. The bye in Week 8 is worth noting when you set your streaming schedule.

The model projects 104.8 points with a draft value of -41.0, placing San Francisco at DST23 and #179 overall in Tier 9. That is below replacement level in a 12-team half-PPR format. The 2023 season shows the upside is real, but the 2024-2025 trend in sacks and interceptions has pulled the projection down significantly.

Sacks went from 48 in 2023 to 36 in 2024 to 20 in 2025. Interceptions dropped from 22 to 11 to 6 over the same three seasons. Points allowed rose from 298 in 2023 to 436 in 2024, then came back to 371 in 2025. The three-year averages are 34.7 sacks, 13 interceptions, and 368.3 points allowed per season.

There is no market ADP available, which means the unit is not being drafted consistently enough across platforms to produce one. Given the DST23 ranking and a draft value below replacement level, the case for spending an early or mid-round pick is not there. Late-round or streaming is the practical approach.

Forced fumbles held steady at 13 in both 2024 and 2025, and fumble recoveries actually improved to 10 in 2025 after sitting at 6 in each of the two prior seasons. The three-year average for fumble recoveries is 7.3 per season. Those are the bright spots in an otherwise declining recent stat line.