Who Should I Start? George Kittle or Darnell Washington

Saturday, April 25, 1:17 PM

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch told NFL Network that tight end George Kittle (Achilles) is doing well in his recovery and "is going to be ready at some point, if not for the first game." Kittle tore his Achilles in the playoffs last season, putting him at risk of missing the upcoming season opener. As of now, it sounds like Lynch is leaving the door open for Kittle to play in Week 1, but it's not a guarantee. The team should gain a clearer understanding of his recovery timeline as the offseason progresses. After all, the regular season opener is still more than four months away. Having Kittle healthy and on the field is huge for the 49ers and fantasy managers. He's one of the best tight ends in fantasy football, ranking as a top-five PPR tight end in each of his last six healthy seasons (minimum 12 games played). The injury factor complicates his draft price this year, but if he's ready within the first couple weeks of the season, he's a relatively safe bet to finish among the top five tight ends in PPR leagues once again.