Fantasy Index

Around the NFL

Catching on early?

So far, so good for De'Zhaun Stribling

Teams are just getting started at training camp, but it seems like the 49ers like what they’re seen so far out of De’Zhaun Stribling. He’s the Ole Miss receiver who was the first player chosen in the second round.

Stribling has above-average size (6-2, 207) and ran a 4.36 at the combine. He turned a short catch into a long touchdown last year against Georgia, which has an NFL-like secondary.

He’s already caught the eye of Brock Purdy. “Dude is a baller, and I mean that,” the quarterback said, via 49ersWebzone.com. “It’s hard to say that for a rookie, right off the jump, but just seeing him run routes, going up against defenders in OTAs and then in camp yesterday. He’s a great route runner. He’s smart. He’s learned the playbook really quick, which is awesome. And then, on top of that, you can see his strength, too. When he’s going up against guys and creating separation, I’m like, ‘Alright, this guy’s a strong receiver.’ And so, I’m excited to see what he does, but all of us, all the quarterbacks in the room, were like, ‘Alright, this guy’s going to be a guy that’s going to come in and play.’”

How much early playing time this translates into, we’ll see. The 49ers have Ricky Pearsall coming back, and they’ve added Mike Evans and Christian Kirk. Evans will be 33 in August, but they signed him to a contract that includes $16.3 million in guaranteed money, suggesting they believe he’ll be their top guy.

Stribling passes the proverbial eyeball test. I would have liked to have seen more production at the college level. In each of his last three full seasons (at three different schools) he caught 51-55 passes and 5-6 TDs. He finished with only 811 yards in 15 games last year.

The 49ers in the Kyle Shanahan era have drafted three other receivers in the same area of the draft, with decent success. Pearsall has had injury issues (including getting shot as a rookie) but has had some success when healthy. And Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel both have had standout seasons.

Overall, it’s been a hit-or-miss area of the draft. In the last 10 years, 29 wide receivers have been selected either with one of the last 10 picks of the first round or the first 10 picks of the second round. Ten of those 29 receivers put up top-40 numbers (PPR scoring) in their first season, with eight not being much of a factor at all (80th or lower).

Looking at just the 2026 season, Evans (I think) will be the first San Francisco receiver chosen in the vast majority of leagues. In a dynasty format, I would think some would instead opt for Stribling or Pearsall.

SECOND-TIER ROOKIE WR (last 10 yrs)
YearPlayerPkRunNoRecTDPPRRk
2016Sterling Shepard, NYG4031656838184.436
2016• Laquon Treadwell, Min.23011502.5188
2017• Zay Jones, Buff.37027316270.687
2017• Curtis Samuel, Car.406415115032.9126
2018Calvin Ridley, Atl.26276482110208.820
2018DJ Moore, Car.24172557882163.036
2018Courtland Sutton, Den.40-1427044136.350
2019Deebo Samuel, S.F.36159578026191.131
2019Hollywood Brown, Balt.250465847146.446
2019• N'Keal Harry, N.E.324912105239.4124
2020Tee Higgins, Cin.3328679086196.628
2020Brandon Aiyuk, S.F.2577607487184.535
2020Laviska Shenault, Jac.4291586005157.146
2020Michael Pittman, Ind.342640503198.980
2021Elijah Moore, NYJ3454435386138.250
2021Rashod Bateman, Balt.270465151103.570
2022Christian Watson, G.B.3480416119164.142
2023Jordan Addison, Min.2327091110221.323
2023• Jonathan Mingo, Car.39043418084.881
2024Brian Thomas, Jac.234887128210284.04
2024Ladd McConkey, LAC3408211497240.914
2024Xavier Worthy, K.C.28104596389187.233
2024Xavier Legette, Car.3224494974125.161
2024Keon Coleman, Buff.339295564111.571
2024• Ricky Pearsall, S.F.314531400393.582
2024• Ja'Lynn Polk, N.E.3701287232.7129
2025Jayden Higgins, Hou.340415256129.547
2025Luther Burden, Chi.3937476522127.949
2025• Matthew Golden, G.B.234929361070.089
2026KC Concepcion, Cle.24??????
2026Omar Cooper, NYJ30??????
2026De'Zhaun Stribling, S.F.33??????
2026Denzel Boston, Cle.39??????

—Ian Allan

Older
Newer

Fantasy Index