De'Zhaun Stribling

De'Zhaun Stribling News

49ers Quarterback Praises Rookie Receiver De'Zhaun Stribling

San Francisco 49ers rookie second-round wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling has quickly impressed quarterback Brock Purdy in training camp, according to Matt Lively of CBS Sports. Purdy said Stribling has paid close attention to the details of his routes and has "done a good job of studying" and "being on top of it." The 49ers' signal-caller went on to say that Stribling has proven that "he's reliable," while adding that it's also Day 2 of camp. Many draft pundits thought the Niners reached quite a bit for Stribling with the first overall pick of the second round in this year's NFL draft, but so far, he has backed it up. The 49ers have future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, and Ricky Pearsall in their receiver room as well, so Stribling still has a lot to prove. But those who took a chance on Stribling in dynasty/keeper leagues have to be happy with the early returns this summer. He mostly stands out for his speed on offense, but it might take an injury for Stribling to become fantasy relevant in standard 12-team leagues in 2026. RotoBaller currently has the Ole Miss product ranked as the No. 78 fantasy WR for the upcoming season.

Jul 27, 2026 4:21 PM EST

De'Zhaun Stribling Better Suited for Dynasty Rebuilders

San Francisco 49ers rookie second-round wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling is easier to carry on a rebuilding dynasty roster than one trying to win immediately. The 49ers selected him 33rd overall after he caught 55 passes for 811 yards and six touchdowns during his final season at Ole Miss. He also brings an appealing physical profile at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds with 4.36 speed. Finding the ball as a rookie may be the problem. Mike Evans has one receiver spot secured, while Stribling is competing with Ricky Pearsall, Christian Kirk, Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins, and Jacob Cowing for the other meaningful snaps. George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey will take their share of the passing game as well. Stribling flashed during the offseason program, and his blocking gives him another way to get on the field, but the weekly volume could be uneven. RotoBaller ranks him WR58 in dynasty. Contenders looking for dependable production may not have room to wait. Rebuilders can be more patient with the second-round pick while his role develops.

Jul 26, 2026 10:01 AM EST

De'Zhaun Stribling a Dynasty Stash, Not a Redraft Sleeper

The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling is easy to like in dynasty and much harder to trust for 2026. San Francisco used the 33rd pick on him after five college seasons, 216 catches, 2,964 yards, and 23 touchdowns. Then there is the athletic piece: 6-foot-2, 207 pounds, and 4.36 speed. The problem is getting him the ball right away. Mike Evans, Ricky Pearsall, and Christian Kirk are already in the receiver room, while George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey remain major parts of the passing game. Stribling could eventually push Kirk for snaps, and his blocking gives him a chance to handle some of the dirty work Jauan Jennings used to do. That still may not turn into useful weekly volume as a rookie. RotoBaller has him 16th in its latest one-quarterback rookie rankings and WR75 for redraft. A mid-second rookie pick is fine. In seasonal leagues, he is a late watch-list name unless camp gives us a much clearer role.

Jul 13, 2026 5:09 AM EST

De'Zhaun Stribling Well-Positioned for an Early Impact?

The San Francisco 49ers' selection of Ole Miss wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling with the first pick of the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft was viewed by many as one of the bigger reaches of the entire draft, but landing with one of the league's most respected combinations of quarterback and playcaller in Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan, Stribling is well-positioned to make an early impact. With Shanahan operating heavily out of 12 and 21-personnel sets, his wideouts in two-receiver formations have naturally seen an uptick in efficiency. While one of those spots is all but guaranteed to go to free agent acquisition Mike Evans, Stribling needs to beat out only Ricky Pearsall and Christian Kirk for something close to an every-down role. Stribling's size and tenacity as a blocker make him an obvious candidate to inherit Jauan Jennings' vacated role, and he could prove to be one of the better values in an underwhelming 2026 draft class. As RotoBaller's dynasty WR57, he is a low-cost target in rookie drafts or startups who could pay immediate dividends, particularly if All-Pro tight end George Kittle requires an extended ramp-up period to begin the year.

Jun 17, 2026 6:01 AM EST

49ers See Something Special in De'Zhaun Stribling

The San Francisco 49ers give a handful of draft prospects "gold helmet" designations for their exemplary standing in several areas, including leadership and football intelligence. Former Ole Miss wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling, who the team selected at 33rd overall at the top of the second round, is considered one of the "gold helmet" prospects, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. "The passion the guy has, the work ethic, the toughness, the durability. He checks all those boxes at a high level," vice president of player personnel Tariq Ahmad said. The 23-year-old Stribling also scored the highest ever in a personality test called the Judgment Index, which seeks to shed light on a player's decision-making skills and value. Stribling was a surprise pick at that spot early in the second round, as he never had over 882 receiving yards or six touchdowns in his five collegiate seasons at Washington State, Oklahoma State, and Ole Miss. At best, Stribling will be an option as San Fran's WR3 in his rookie season in 2026 behind Mike Evans and Ricky Pearsall. He won't be on the fantasy radar in single-year leagues in 2026, but his size (6-foot-2, 207 pounds) and speed (4.36-second 40-yard dash) give him upside in the long term if his intangibles set him apart.

May 6, 2026 9:49 AM EST

49ers Take De'Zhaun Stribling to Kick Off Second Round

The San Francisco 49ers selected Ole Miss wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling with the 33rd overall pick at the top of Round 2 in the 2026 NFL draft on Friday night. Stribling has the potential to be a true WR1 down the road in San Francisco, and he's an excellent jump-ball artist down the field at 6-foot-2, 202 pounds. The Niners entered the offseason with receiver being an area of need with Brandon Aiyuk's (knee) time with the organization coming to an end, and the team not expected to re-sign Jauan Jennings. They signed future Hall of Famer Mike Evans in free agency and have now added Stribling through the draft. Stribling played two years each in college at Washington State and Oklahoma State before finishing off with Ole Miss in 2025, where he caught 55 passes for 811 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games played. Stribling could be a dynasty sleeper while working with quarterback Brock Purdy, mainly because of his elite vertical burst down the field. The selection of Stribling is bad news for the long-term value of Ricky Pearsall, a former first-rounder.

Apr 24, 2026 3:19 PM EST