BrockPurdy

News: 1 day agoCoach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday that most of the 49ers' starters, including Purdy, will play 1-to-2 possessions during Sunday's preseason contest versus the Saints, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Spin: After sitting out San Francisco's exhibition opener last Saturday at Tennessee, Purdy and healthy starters like WR Deebo Samuel and TE George Kittle will be out there this weekend. However, regulars like RB Christian McCaffrey (calf) and WR Brandon Aiyuk seem unlikely to see the field Saturday, barring the latter's contract dispute receiving clarity before then. Purdy is coming off a 2023 campaign in which he completed 69 percent of his passes for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while adding 144 yards and two more scores on the ground in 16 regular-season games.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Purdy returned from UCL surgery by fending off (theoretical) competition at the position and putting together a breakout effort in 2023. Surrounded by elite YAC talent, serving in an ultra-friendly scheme and buoyed by a solid defense, Mr. Irrelevant didn't always have to do a whole lot to win games. That sometimes meant underwhelming numbers from a fantasy perspective, though Purdy did average more than 18 fantasy points per contest and finished inside the top 10 among fantasy QBs. He's not the most dynamic player, but his situation provides him (and fake football managers) with a wonderfully high floor. He projects to post fringe-QB1 fantasy numbers again in 2024.