Who Should I Start? Brock Purdy or Michael Penix Jr.

Friday, March 13, 2:31 PM

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy battled a nagging toe injury for much of the first half of the 2025 season and was ultimately sidelined for eight games. Still, the 26-year-old got hot down the stretch and ultimately put together solid numbers in the nine games he was able to play, completing 69.4% of his pass attempts for 2,167 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Purdy also made a modest fantasy impact with his legs, rushing for 147 yards and three scores. Purdy could be without a couple of key weapons for at least the start of 2026, as star tight end George Kittle (Achilles) will likely miss the start of the year with a torn Achilles tendon, and wide receiver Jauan Jennings is currently lingering in unrestricted free agency. However, San Francisco made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason by signing star wide receiver Mike Evans, who immediately gives Purdy a high-end downfield and red zone target. The 49ers could also get more out of wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who has been limited by injuries to just 20 games played over his first two NFL seasons. While the loss of Kittle hurts, San Francisco still has a solid supporting cast around Purdy that should allow the young QB to continue to be a productive option for fantasy managers.