Taking a look at the De’Zhaun Stribling dynasty fantasy football value, including where you should draft the San Francisco 49ers’ receiver in your rookie draft.
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Every year, there are a few players that the fantasy football industry agrees are “must-haves” as well as a few players you should avoid at all costs. In a weak rookie class, the one player seemingly all the fantasy industry agrees on is De’Zhaun Stribling.
After being one of the surprise picks in the draft with the 33rd overall pick, the entire fantasy industry seemingly holds the viewpoint that he holds little to no value. Let’s detail why the fantasy industry is not only wrong on fading the De’Zhaun Stribling dynasty value, but also why you actually need to draft him.
To see where he is ranked, check out our dynasty fantasy football rookie rankings!
Why You Need to Draft De’Zhaun Stribling in Dynasty
Industry Consensus Too Low
The hate on the San Francisco 49ers for drafting Stribling where they did is warranted. If we want to get into the weeds of the opportunity cost and how they could’ve traded down to gain some assets and still have drafted him, that’s a fair knock on the 49ers. However, the fantasy football industry has seemingly parlayed that hate into the De’Zhaun Stribling dynasty fantasy football projection as well. One of the biggest reasons seems to be that he won’t produce off the bat, which is one of the more disingenuous reasons to stay away from a player.
Every year, multiple players won’t provide much fantasy value in dynasty formats right off the bat. For example, look at Tucker Kraft in 2023 or Bucky Irving in 2024. Neither of those players was expected to contribute in a big role immediately, but the industry didn’t completely give up on them as fantasy assets before they even stepped on the field. They were solid players who simply bided their time and have since provided good value. The same thing should go for Stribling. Yes, the 49ers have a wide receiver room that appears crowded, but the path to playing is clear.
The receiving room is topped with an aging and injury-prone Mike Evans, underwhelming Ricky Pearsall, and “I haven’t done anything since 2022” Christian Kirk. Those players are less than inspiring for a team that expects to be one of the contenders in the NFC. There is clearly a spot for Stribling in this receiving room that consists of more “has-beens,” “underachievers,” or “injury risks” than actual solid options for 2026.
Even if that trio somehow does put it all together, Evans is already 32, Kirk is a free agent next year and Pearsall is more known for being shot than catching passes. That paves the way for Stribling to potentially have high fantasy football value in just one year.
De’Zhaun Stribling Dynasty Profile
De’Zhaun Stribling has plenty of team control and is an athletic freak. He ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash and, at 6’2″, he brings the size needed to thrive on the outside at the NFL level as well. While the San Francisco 49ers love to run the ball, they have a solid quarterback in Brock Purdy and are not afraid to throw it. Stribling’s fantasy football value for 2026 may not be as high as that of a Makai Lemon or Denzel Boston, but that doesn’t mean he should be faded as much as he is right now.
Kyle Shanahan loves taking athletic freaks and using them in multiple different ways to suit his offense. There is no doubt that Stribling will be the next player he does this with. With the amount of draft capital the Niners put into him, there is no way that the organization won’t give him every chance in the book to make an impact for the team.
The disdain for the De’Zhaun Stribling dynasty fantasy football value just because he was drafted earlier than you thought he should is nothing short of bizarre. In a rookie class that is one of the weakest for skill players in recent memory, it’s odd that a player with an athletic profile such as Stribling, who is drafted to a good situation, is being completely overlooked by the fantasy industry.
Nobody is telling you that Stribling will win you a league this year, but with an aging receiving corps and the need for playmakers for the next few years, the San Francisco 49ers have a vision for Stribling. He has all the tools to see it come to fruition. If you are in a dynasty league with people who are buying into the hate for Stribling, take advantage and draft a player who has all the tools to be one of the best receivers in this draft class. If/when it helps you make the playoffs or win your league, you’ll get to take the biggest victory lap your league has ever seen.
