GeorgeKittle

News: 1 day agoKittle (Achilles) is expected to practice this week as he continues his push to play in the 49ers' season opener against the Rams in Australia, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Spin: With Kittle having been activated from the active/PUP list last Sunday and reportedly avoiding setbacks in his recovery from a torn Achilles, he appears to be trending in the right direction for Week 1. His practice workload this week should offer the clearest indication yet of whether San Francisco's starting tight end will be ready for the opener. Should Kittle indeed be able to suit up versus the Rams, it would mean he'd return to game action almost exactly eight months after he tore his Achilles on Jan. 11 in a wild-card win over Philadelphia.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Kittle is undoubtedly among the best tight ends in the NFL and fantasy, but he simply can't dodge the injury bug. The 2017 fifth-round pick has played one full season (2018) and tore an Achilles in the team's wild-card victory after missing six regular-season games last season. Kittle could miss a few games to open the season and, now at 32 years old, might not be his usual, dominant self even when he returns. Kittle has finished sixth or better in fantasy PPG in each of the past eight seasons (including first in 2024), so he's worth a late-round flier, especially if you have an available IR slot.