De'Zhaun Stribling
Wide Receiver
De'Zhaun Stribling News
De'Zhaun Stribling to Begin as Starting Slot Receiver?
The Athletic's Matt Barrows thinks the plan is for rookie second-round wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling to be the team's primary F slot receiver and Mike Evans' understudy at the X spot. The Niners brought in veteran Christian Kirk as a free agent, and he has plenty of experience as a slot receiver, but he will start the 2026 campaign on Injured Reserve with a calf injury, opening up a regular role for Stribling out of the slot to begin his first year in the NFL. The 23-year-old from Ole Miss has been one of the biggest risers on draft boards at the receiver position this summer due to a strong training camp and preseason, and the fact that wideout Ricky Pearsall (knee) has already been ruled out for the season. Stribling is a big body at WR at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, and he combined for 1,693 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on 107 receptions in his final two seasons at Ole Miss. He was held out of the preseason finale due to a minor shoulder injury, but he should be ready for Week 1 in Australia next Thursday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, where he could quickly start producing alongside Evans. Stribling will be a popular flex option in fantasy football drafts this weekend.
Sep 3, 2026 10:19 AM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling Remains a Top Late-Round Target
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling has been one of the most exciting players to emerge this preseason, stepping up as a key contributor in the team's receiving corps while other receivers battled injury. Ricky Pearsall (knee) was placed on season-ending IR, while Christian Kirk (calf) will also start the year on injured reserve but could return after Week 4. The second-round pick from Ole Miss will begin the year in a starting role alongside Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel, and the rookie could make an immediate impact based on his preseason usage and success. He caught 11 of his 13 targets for 109 yards in his first two preseason games before sitting out the team's third and final preseason contest with the rest of the starters. Stribling's draft stock is sky-rocketing, and he is the WR50 in RotoBaller's rankings. If you can grab him as a bench option in the middle rounds, he could still bring great value if he emerges as one of the go-to options in coach Kyle Shanahan's typically productive passing game.
Sep 1, 2026 6:10 AM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling Not Playing Thursday Night
According to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard, San Francisco 49ers rookie second-round wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (shoulder) won't be playing in Thursday night's matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders in the final preseason game for the 49ers before they open up their season at MCG Stadium in East Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, September 10th, against the Los Angeles Rams. Stribling is projected to be the No. 3 receiver in this 49ers passing attack after Ricky Pearsall (knee) has been ruled out for the season. Additionally, he made his presence felt in training camp and backed it up in his first two preseason games, hauling in 11 of his 13 targets for 109 yards. It appears the team will rest him along with a majority of their key starters, and fantasy managers targeting a wide receiver late in drafts should be looking Stribling's way.
Aug 27, 2026 5:17 PM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling's Redraft Stock Continues to Climb
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (shoulder) has already spent August pushing his way up redraft boards, and another Mike Evans injury only adds to the rookie's case. Evans is not practicing Tuesday because of a groin injury after leaving Sunday's session early. Stribling has done more than benefit from injuries around him. The 33rd overall pick has caught 11 of 13 targets for 109 yards through two preseason games, including four receptions for 46 yards against the Chargers on Thursday. He also caught two touchdowns during last week's joint practice and has earned praise from Brock Purdy for his reliability and strong hands. Stribling has dealt with a shoulder issue of his own, but he returned Sunday in a non-contact jersey after sitting out Saturday. Ricky Pearsall (knee) is already out for the season, while Evans and Christian Kirk (calf) are now both dealing with injuries. Deebo Samuel Sr. remains part of a crowded target picture, so an immediate featured role isn't guaranteed. Still, Stribling has gone from WR75 in RotoBaller's July rankings to WR51 now. His redraft stock is clearly headed in the right direction.
Aug 25, 2026 11:14 AM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling in No-Contact Jersey on Sunday
Updating a previous report, San Francisco 49ers rookie second-round wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (shoulder) returned to training camp practice on Sunday after he missed Saturday's session with a shoulder injury, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. Stribling was seen wearing a no-contact jersey in his return. The 23-year-old from Ole Miss is considered day-to-day for now after suiting up for Thursday's 41-17 win in the preseason over the Los Angeles Chargers. He has been standing out in practices and in two preseason games, catching 11 of his 13 targets for 109 yards. Stribling should have a key role in San Fran's passing game right away in 2026 after the Niners learned that Ricky Pearsall (knee) would miss the entire season with recurring PCL issues. The team added veteran Deebo Samuel Sr. to the fold, but Stribling has looked the part all summer and is worth a late-round flier in all single-year fantasy football leagues. He is currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 51 fantasy WR for 2026. Barring a setback with his shoulder, Stribling should be fine for Week 1 of the regular season in Australia versus the division-rival Los Angeles Rams.
Aug 23, 2026 5:22 PM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling Remains Out With Shoulder Injury
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling missed practice again Sunday because of a shoulder injury, according to Matt Barrows. That's two straight practices on the sideline for the rookie, who was listed as day-to-day Saturday. The timing isn't ideal after Stribling spent most of August forcing his way into San Francisco's plans at receiver. He caught seven passes for 63 yards against Tennessee in his preseason debut, then added four catches for 46 yards against the Chargers on Thursday. The 33rd overall pick has 11 receptions for 109 yards through two preseason games and has made a strong case for playing time right away. There isn't anything here yet that suggests his Week 1 availability is in serious doubt. Still, Stribling losing consecutive practices is worth tracking after all the momentum he built during camp.
Aug 23, 2026 9:57 AM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling Day-to-Day With Shoulder Injury
NBC Sports Bay Area & California's Matt Maiocco reports San Francisco 49ers rookie wideout De'Zhaun Stribling (shoulder) is considered day-to-day with a shoulder injury. Stribling reportedly sustained his shoulder injury during Thursday's 41-17 preseason win against the Los Angeles Chargers. The 23-year-old had four catches for 46 yards on five targets in his second preseason outing. Stribling has become a trendy late-round target for fantasy managers after teammate Ricky Pearsall (knee) underwent season-ending knee surgery in early August and Mike Evans has missed time due to a quadriceps strain. Since then, Stribling has turned heads in training camp and produced strong outings in preseason action. However, he has not been able to fully maximize his opportunity to carve out a role in the 49ers' offense since this is the second injury he has had in August. Stribling should still be viewed as a later-round target in fantasy football drafts with high upside.
Aug 22, 2026 1:32 PM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling Could Have Major Week 1 Role
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling may have already played his way into a big role for Week 1. Matt Maiocco said on "The Rich Eisen Show" that he views Stribling, Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel as San Francisco's top three receivers heading into the season. That's another big endorsement for the 33rd overall pick, who has been one of the stories of 49ers camp. Stribling caught seven passes for 63 yards in his preseason debut against Tennessee and came back with four catches for 46 yards against the Chargers. He's now sitting at 11 grabs for 109 yards through two preseason games. San Francisco hasn't officially named Stribling a starter, but that distinction might not matter much if he's regularly on the field with Evans and Samuel. The rookie has gone from an interesting summer story to somebody fantasy managers need to have on the redraft radar.
Aug 22, 2026 10:02 AM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling to Have Major Role in Week 1
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling has been one of the most talked about rookies heading into the regular season. Stribling continued to impress during the second preseason game on Thursday. According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, Stribling is set to have a major role in the offense during the Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. The second-round rookie continues to make big plays and could be thrust into a significant role with fellow wideout Ricky Pearsall (knee) done for the season. Fantasy managers shouldn't sleep on Stribling because he could end up being a big-time playmaker in Kyle Shanahan's offense.
Aug 21, 2026 5:34 PM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling Continues To Impress In Preseason Action
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver had four catches for 46 receiving yards on five targets in Thursday's preseason win over the Chargers. Stribling's stats might not be eye-popping, but his ability to secure the ball while in traffic or going to the ground on each reception in the game added to his burgeoning popularity. Stribling was not listed as a starter but was on the field for the 49ers' first two offensive drives before being removed from the game. With Ricky Pearsall (knee) out for the season and Mike Evans (foot/ankle) already hobbled by injuries, Stribling may have a significant role in the 49ers' offense when the regular season begins. His next opportunity to build on his impressive preseason performance will come on August 27 against the Raiders.
Aug 21, 2026 1:11 AM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling Gets "Vet WR Treatment" at Practice
San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling continues to get encouraging signs about where he stands with the team. During Sunday's special teams period, David Lombardi noted that Stribling worked individually with offensive assistant/wide receivers coach Andrew Hayes-Stoker instead, the same setup veteran Mike Evans received. Lombardi described it as the "vet WR treatment." It comes just a few days after Stribling caught seven passes for 63 yards in his preseason debut against Tennessee. The 49ers had seen enough by midway through the second quarter, pulling the No. 33 overall pick from the game with nearly eight minutes left in the half. Stribling has also been making plays in camp since returning from some early hamstring tightness. Sunday doesn't guarantee where he'll land in the receiver rotation, but San Francisco continuing to prioritize his offensive work is another positive development for the rookie.
Aug 16, 2026 9:12 AM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling Leads 49ers Receivers In Loss
San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling led the team in receptions and receiving yards in Thursday's preseason meeting with the Tennessee Titans. Stribling had seven catches for 63 yards on eight targets in the 19-13 loss. Stribling impressed his new home crowd by making catches in traffic and fighting for extra yards. In light of the rash of injuries dealt to the 49ers, including receivers Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Mike Evans (quadriceps), Stribling's performance should boost his fantasy appeal. With Pearsall out for the year and Evans a perennial injury risk, Stribling could see a healthy workload even after San Francisco's recent reunion with Deebo Samuel Jr. Stribling's next opportunity to add to his burgeoning allure will come on August 20 when the 49ers square off against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Aug 14, 2026 2:01 AM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling is the "Best Wide Receiver" on the 49ers
Grant Cohn of Sports Illustrated said at training camp on Monday that he thinks San Francisco 49ers rookie second-round wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling is the "best wide receiver on the whole team" right now and is the only WR "that you need to fear." Stribling is big and fast and is fearless over the middle of the field. He missed some practice time last week with a minor hamstring issue, but he returned to team drills over the weekend and should be fine moving forward. Cohn doesn't know that veteran wideout and future Hall of Famer Mike Evans (quadriceps) is going to save this offense, so the Niners will likely ask a lot of Stribling in his first year in the NFL, even after the reunion with veteran pass-catcher Deebo Samuel Sr. Most draft pundits thought the 49ers reached when they took Stribling with the first pick in the second round in April, but he has the size and high football IQ to surprise some folks, especially now that Ricky Pearsall (knee) is out for the year. Assuming Stribling stays healthy all year, he should be a top two or three receiver for San Francisco in 2026.
Aug 10, 2026 3:41 PM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling Could Have An Extended Role Early On
San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (hamstring) returned to practice on Saturday after missing the last few days with hamstring tightness, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Stribling participated in team drills and made an impact by catching passes on multiple routes for sizeable gains. According to Wagoner, Stribling is picking up San Francisco's offense in a hurry and, if healthy, could have a fairly extensive role early on. He is having a strong training camp, and with Ricky Pearsall (knee) out for the season, he will have an opportunity to make an impact early on. The 49ers selected Stribling with the 33rd pick of the 2026 NFL Draft,t and he will compete with Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel Sr., George Kittle, and Christian Kirk for targets in a potent 49ers offense. Stribling's fantasy stock continues to rise and is currently ranked as WR59 in the latest RotoBaller rankings.
Aug 8, 2026 3:59 PM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling Returns to 11-on-11 Work
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (hamstring) returned to 11-on-11 work Saturday after dealing with hamstring tightness, according to Noah Furtado. The rookie had been unavailable for team work earlier this week, so getting back into full-speed reps is a good step after the 49ers took a cautious approach with the issue. Stribling had made a strong impression before the setback, with Brock Purdy praising his understanding of route depths, alignments, and details while calling him reliable. San Francisco selected the 6-foot-2, 207-pound receiver 33rd overall in April after he posted 55 catches for 811 yards and six touchdowns at Ole Miss last season. With Ricky Pearsall out for the year and several other receivers dealing with injuries during camp, Stribling has a real opportunity to earn early playing time if he can stay on the field.
Aug 8, 2026 10:41 AM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling in Uniform for Thursday's Practice
San Francisco 49ers second-round rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (hamstring) is in uniform for the team's training camp practice on Thursday, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. The 49ers are once again already one of the most banged-up teams in the NFL early in training camp, with receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) already ruled out for the 2026 season. In addition, Mike Evans (quadriceps) and Christian Kirk (calf) are nursing injuries, which will give Stribling a nice opportunity to work with the first-team offense if he's allowed to do team drills on Thursday. The 23-year-old Ole Miss product has missed practices recently with a tight hamstring, but he appears to be improving and should be ready for preseason action. What he lacks in physical ability, Stribling makes up for with a high football IQ, and he figures to start in three-wide sets in his first NFL season now that Pearsall is done for the year. Stribling will probably still go undrafted in 12-team fantasy leagues, but he's becoming a more interesting late-round sleeper in single-year formats in 2026.
Aug 6, 2026 9:21 AM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling Remains Sidelined With Hamstring Tightness
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (hamstring) remains day-to-day with hamstring tightness and did not practice Monday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. The rookie also sat out Saturday's session, but the injury has been described as tightness rather than a strain. Stribling had opened camp well before the absence, catching several passes during team drills and earning praise from Brock Purdy for his route details and reliability. San Francisco selected him 33rd overall in April after he finished his lone season at Ole Miss with 55 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns. The 49ers have not announced when Stribling will return, so his status will remain worth checking when the team practices again. A short absence should not dramatically alter his outlook, but every missed rep matters for a rookie trying to establish his place in the receiving rotation. He remains more of a dynasty prospect than a dependable redraft option at this stage.
Aug 3, 2026 10:33 AM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling Sits With Hamstring Tightness
San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (hamstring) did not practice Saturday after experiencing tightness, according to David Lombardi. Lombardi noted that the issue is not a strain and that the team is being cautious. The timing interrupts an encouraging start to camp for the 33rd overall pick. Stribling caught multiple passes during each of the first two practices, and Brock Purdy praised his route details and reliability after Day 2. The 23-year-old finished his final college season at Ole Miss with 55 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. There is no reported timetable for his return, so fantasy managers should avoid reading too much into a precautionary absence. Still, his participation bears watching as the rookie tries to maintain the early momentum he built in San Francisco's receiver rotation.
Aug 1, 2026 10:15 AM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling Continues to Impress as Starting Role is in Reach
The Athletic's Vic Tafur reports rookie wideout De'Zhaun Stribling continues to check off nice practices with a starting receiver role within reach. Stribling has been turning heads at the start of training camp and generating buzz that will start to increase his ADP in fantasy football. With recent news of Ricky Pearsall (knee) likely heading into season-ending surgery on his knee, it has opened the door for Stribling to be a fantasy-relevant receiver in Year 1. However, the team decided to bring back Deebo Samuel Sr. on a one-year deal on Thursday. It has yet to be seen if adding Samuel was a move to add depth to the roster or to play a contributing role this season. Stribling was the 33rd overall pick and the 49ers' first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He was widely considered a big-bodied development receiver coming out of Ole Miss and was seen as a reach to some in the football community. Nonetheless, Stribling has a chance to be a starting receiver in a Kyle Shanahan offense, which means he will be worth keeping tabs on as training camp progresses.
Jul 31, 2026 12:47 PM EST
De'Zhaun Stribling Could be a Starter for Niners in Rookie Season
San Francisco 49ers rookie second-round wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling is looking at an increased opportunity early on with former first-rounder Ricky Pearsall (knee) currently out in training camp due to knee swelling, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic. Stribling, who many considered a reach for San Fran with the first pick of the second round in April, had back-to-back 800-yard receiving seasons with six touchdowns apiece in his final two collegiate seasons with Oklahoma State and Ole Miss. The 23-year-old doesn't jump off the page with his physical skills, but he has displayed high-end leadership and work ethic, and if Pearsall isn't ready for the start of the 2026 regular season, Stribling figures to start in three-wide sets alongside veterans Mike Evans and Christian Kirk. Stribling's speed sets him apart from the other wideouts in San Fran, and Pearsall's continued injury issues are quickly making him a late-round sleeper in upcoming fantasy drafts. RotoBaller currently has Stribling ranked as the No. 78 fantasy WR, but his ADP will continue to rise for however long Pearsall is sidelined.
Jul 29, 2026 9:57 AM EST
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