The 49ers’ biggest problem in 2025 had nothing to do with the record. San Francisco still went 12-5, but once the injuries are stripped away, the offense kept running into the same issue: it didn’t have enough big-play juice. Too often, the Niners had to grind out long, methodical drives just to move the ball, and Christian McCaffrey wound up carrying a massive load in the passing game.
McCaffrey led all NFL running backs with 102 catches last season, and the gap was huge. The next closest back finished with 79. That kind of usage tells the story on its own.
Now the Rams could drag San Francisco right back into that same script in the season opener. Los Angeles already allowed the 10th-most receptions to running backs last year, and that number was tied to how often its pass rush forced quick decisions and dump-offs.
If quarterbacks don’t have time to wait for routes to develop, the ball goes to the back. That’s how the Rams made life uncomfortable for opponents.
And this version of the Rams defense looks even nastier on paper. They replaced edge rusher Jared Verse with two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, and they also brought Aaron Donald out of retirement. If Donald plays, the 49ers will be staring at a loaded defensive front from top to bottom.
That setup could push Brock Purdy into the same short-area rhythm that made McCaffrey such a frequent target a year ago. More heat up front means less time in the pocket, and less time usually means more checkdowns. McCaffrey can handle that role - he’s one of the best receiving backs ever - but San Francisco doesn’t want him living there all game.
Last season, that workload piled up fast. McCaffrey touched the ball 450 times across the regular season and postseason, a massive total for a player who just turned 30. The numbers were efficient enough - he averaged 9.1 yards per reception - but the 49ers were at their best when he wasn’t functioning as the offense’s main first-read outlet.
Even George Kittle, in what was described as his least efficient year in 2026, averaged 11.0 yards per catch. That only sharpens the point: San Francisco needs more than constant McCaffrey checkdowns if it wants its offense to really open up.
The hope is that explosive additions De'Zhaun Stribling and Kaelon Black help stretch the field and loosen things up. There’s also a push for Kyle Shanahan to get Mike Evans involved downfield while the offensive line gives Purdy enough time to work. If not, the 49ers may end up right back where they were last season, leaning on McCaffrey again while the Rams’ pass rush dictates the terms.
In Other News...
49ers Land In Melbourne With Roster Questions Still Looming
The 49ers touched down in Melbourne this week with the focus shifting from travel to survival mode for a Week 1 meeting with the Rams. Even before the first full practice on Australian soil, the roster picture remained clouded by injuries and a few spots that still need sorting out, leaving the team with a familiar early-season balancing act: stay patient, but keep enough depth in mind if the room gets thinner.
For now, San Francisco is not expected to jump into the free-agent market right away, though a few familiar names sit in the background as possible insurance. Jeff Okudah, Leonard Floyd and Laken Tomlinson all have ties that could make sense if the 49ers decide they need veteran help, whether because of current injury concerns or just the need to shore up certain positions before the season settles in. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Depth Battle Could Create New Trade Chips Fast
The 49ers have already trimmed to their final roster, but that does not mean the personnel picture is settled for long. With a deep group in several spots and a coaching staff that has never been shy about reshaping the bottom and middle of the roster, players who survive the initial cut can still become trade candidates once the season starts and needs begin to sort themselves out.
A few names are worth watching because depth, performance and fit can all change quickly in San Francisco, and that gives the front office flexibility if another team comes calling. Jones, Samuel, Alfred Collins and Bethune are among the players whose situations could draw interest depending on how the early weeks unfold, but any move would hinge on both the 49ers' own needs and whether outside clubs see enough value to make a real offer. [Read more 🡒]
Deebo Samuel Is Giving The 49ers A Reason To Reconsider Him
Deebo Samuels return to the 49ers was shaped by both familiarity and necessity, with San Francisco bringing him back on a one-year, mostly incentive-based contract after Washington moved on. He has taken part fully in training camp, and the early view around the team is that he can still be useful in a variety of ways, whether that means lining up at receiver, taking snaps at running back or helping on special teams.
The timing of the move matters just as much as the reunion itself. San Francisco had a need for more depth after Ricky Pearsalls season-ending injury, and Samuel gives the roster a player who knows the system and can fill multiple roles without much transition time. The bigger question now is how much of that old versatility still translates into a meaningful place in the 49ers plans. [Read more 🡒]