Kyle Shanahan executed a masterclass last season, dragging a San Francisco 49ers team with a shocking number of injuries (electrical substation pun intended) to a 12-5 record and eclipsing its win total for the third time in four seasons.
Brock Purdy, George Kittle and Ricky Pearsall all missed six-plus games in the same season the 49ers were without Deebo Samuel Sr., who had departed via free agency, and Brandon Aiyuk, who decided to no-show. Nick Bosa and Fred Warner also sat out extended time on defense. Continued success despite major obstacles explains why the 49ers have had a double-digit win total for each of the past six years, although this season actually has slightly diminished expectations because of the overall strength of their division foes. -- Kevin Pulsifer
Note: Odds by DraftKings
and subject to change.
2026 outlook: Health, division are obstacles to optimism
The 49ers enter the 2026 season as one of the more fascinating betting teams on the board. Oddsmakers have set their regular-season win total at 9.5, with the over carrying heavy juice, signaling an expectation that San Francisco reaches double-digit victories.
Despite that optimism, the 49ers have the third-longest odds to win the NFC West, illustrating just how competitive the division has become behind the Rams and Seahawks.
Purdy is surrounded by elite talent, including Christian McCaffrey, Kittle and offseason addition Mike Evans, and Shanahan remains one of the NFL's premier offensive minds. The betting value comes down to whether San Francisco can stay healthy after several injury-plagued campaigns. If the core remains on the field, the over on 9.5 wins looks attainable, but bettors should recognize that navigating the league's toughest division leaves little margin for error. -- Tyler Fulghum
Best bet: 49ers to win NFC West (+305)
The 49ers at +305 to win the NFC West offer intriguing betting value. Those odds imply roughly a 25% chance of winning the division, yet the race appears much closer to an even three-team battle between San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle. If the gap between those contenders is as narrow as expected, the 49ers' true chances might be significantly higher than the implied probability. With Shanahan, Purdy and a talented core capable of rebounding, +305 provides one of the best risk-reward bets in one of the NFL's most competitive divisions. -- Fulghum
