49ers Week 2 injury report vs. Dolphins: What it means for fantasy football

The San Francisco 49ers may need to make a late change at kicker when they host the Miami Dolphins in Week 2. Eddy Piñeiro missed all three practices due to an illness and is officially listed as questionable for Sunday. Head Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that the team plans to bring in another kicker as insurance. Additionally, rookie running back Kaelon Black is also questionable with a groin injury. Wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling has already been ruled out after undergoing ankle surgery, which is expected to keep him sidelined for approximately 10 weeks.

Stribling's situation became particularly frustrating after he briefly returned in the Week 1 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. He had an evaluation of his ankle but later aggravated the injury during the game. Shanahan clarified that initial sideline testing did not reveal the extent of the damage that ultimately required surgery. On a positive note, several key fantasy contributors, including Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle, completed the week without any game designations. This leaves only Black as the skill-position player with uncertain availability.

49ers' injury report for Week 2

RB Kaelon Black — Groin — Questionable
K Eddy Piñeiro — Illness — Questionable
WR De'Zhaun Stribling — Ankle — Out
DL Nick Bosa — Knee/Rest — No game designation
LB Dre Greenlaw — Achilles/Rest — No game designation
FB Kyle Juszczyk — Finger — No game designation
DL Khalid Kareem — Shoulder — No game designation
TE George Kittle — Achilles — No game designation
RB Christian McCaffrey — Rest — No game designation
CB Upton Stout — Achilles — No game designation
DL Keion White — Back — No game designation
OT Trent Williams — Rest — No game designation

Black was added to the report on Thursday and remained limited in practice on Friday, which raises concerns about his late appearance due to a groin issue, especially compared to the players who progressed normally throughout the week. Piñeiro did not practice at all, and Stribling was absent entirely before receiving his final designation.

On a more positive note, Kittle transitioned from limited participation on Wednesday and Thursday to a full session on Friday. Bosa improved from a did not practice (DNP) and limited session to full participation, and McCaffrey also returned to full practice after taking a rest day on Wednesday, so none of these three players carry an official status heading into Sunday. Miami's injury report also enhances the fantasy matchups for several 49ers. Edge rusher Chop Robinson has been ruled out due to a concussion, and linebacker Ronnie Harrison Jr. will miss the game because of a hamstring injury. Quarterback Malik Willis practiced fully despite a toe issue and has no game designation.

Fantasy impact of 49ers' Week 2 injury report

The backfield warrants close attention because Black was more involved in Week 1 than many fantasy managers anticipated. He rushed 14 times for 65 yards and added one reception for five yards, while McCaffrey finished with 68 yards on 10 carries and another 20 yards on five catches. Instead of using McCaffrey as an every-down workhorse, San Francisco incorporated Black into a legitimate complementary role, giving the rookie 15 touches while keeping McCaffrey sufficiently involved in the passing game to remain productive without a heavy rushing workload.

If Black plays, his Week 1 usage makes him a viable flex option against a Miami defense that struggled against Las Vegas, but the groin injury adds uncertainty, so fantasy managers should check San Francisco's inactive list before inserting him into their lineup. The matchup itself remains appealing, and Black's 14 carries in his NFL debut demonstrate that Shanahan is willing to utilize him for significant stretches rather than just as an occasional change-of-pace back.

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If he is inactive, McCaffrey's value increases significantly, as those early-down touches would need to be redistributed, and while another reserve could absorb some of those carries, San Francisco would have less incentive to keep McCaffrey around 10 rushing attempts, especially after he averaged 6.8 yards per carry against the Rams. Even with Black healthy, McCaffrey remains a strong fantasy starter after producing 88 scrimmage yards on only 15 touches, but Black's absence could lead to an increase in McCaffrey's workload, aligning it more closely with what fantasy managers typically expect.

Kittle's listing regarding his Achilles injury should cause less concern, as he was a full participant in practice this week, and San Francisco has removed any game designation for him, but fantasy managers hoping for a rebound will want to see more volume after he caught only two passes for 12 yards against Los Angeles. This quiet stat line did not reflect a struggling 49ers passing game, as Brock Purdy completed 25 of 34 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns, but those touchdowns went to Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel Sr., and Demarcus Robinson instead of Kittle.

Therefore, Kittle should be considered a basic start rather than a player to downgrade solely based on his appearance on the injury report. Additionally, Miami's loss of Robinson from its pass rush further enhances Purdy's situation, as he was not sacked in Week 1 and finished with a 105.6 passer rating, so with Trent Williams also cleared after scheduled rest and the Dolphins missing one of their most talented edge defenders, Purdy presents a strong QB1 streaming option against a young Miami defense.

The absence of rookie Stribling should not impact the wide receivers from a fantasy perspective since he did not record a catch in the opener. Meanwhile, Evans and Samuel are already established as Purdy's primary wideout targets, combining for 12 receptions, 97 yards, and two touchdowns. Evans caught six passes for 49 yards and one touchdown, while Samuel recorded six catches for 48 yards, added a 12-yard rush, and also found the end zone. Both players have clear starting appeal against Miami, regardless of how San Francisco fills Stribling's roster spot.

Demarcus Robinson presents a more volatile option after turning just two receptions into 50 yards and a touchdown, with a notable 39-yard gain, and with Stribling's absence, Robinson could gain more playing time, although his Week 1 production came on limited volume. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues may consider him a boom-or-bust flex play rather than expecting another touchdown, as players like Evans, Samuel, McCaffrey, and Kittle have stronger claims to regular targets.

Piñeiro's illness adds an unusual complication for fantasy managers, as the kicker position is typically simple on the injury report, but missing an entire week of practice raises enough uncertainty that managers relying on him should have an alternative ready. San Francisco has already indicated plans to add another kicker as a contingency, so  Piñeiro's reliability is worth monitoring, especially after he converted 28 of 29 field-goal attempts last season, but managers should not risk getting a zero if his status remains unresolved close to kickoff.

The 49ers' defense and special teams (D/ST) still rank as one of the stronger options for Week 2, despite several defensive players appearing on the injury report. Fortunately, Bosa, Greenlaw, Kareem, Stout, and White all avoided game designations. Miami enters this matchup without Robinson and managed to score only 13 points during its season-opening loss to Las Vegas. San Francisco limited the Rams to just seven points in Week 1, forced two turnovers, and did not allow any points after the first quarter. This performance diminishes any injury-related concerns for including the unit in fantasy lineups.

Ultimately, Black is the player whose status could most significantly impact fantasy expectations on Sunday, and his absence would consolidate an already productive backfield around McCaffrey. Together, Kittle, Purdy, Evans, and Samuel can be started normally, as San Francisco's key offensive veterans finished the week without injury designations.