The George Kittle injury update following his Achilles tendon tear was so positive that his fantasy football value is rising.
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FlurrySports will have a new fantasy football article every single day in May, so make sure you come back tomorrow for something new. We’re back, folks! I’m so happy to be talking about fantasy again, and I am also happy to be a George Kittle fantasy football owner in one of my dynasty leagues.
Last year was a disappointing one for the San Francisco 49ers. While they played well, they were plagued by injuries. Kittle fought injuries all season long as well, but a torn Achilles tendon in the playoffs is what ultimately ended his season. However, we recently got a very positive injury update from George Kittle that has his fantasy value on the rise.
Check out our 2026 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings!
George Kittle Injury Update and Fantasy Football Value
The Achilles tendon tear for Kittle occurred on January 11th, and then he was able to undergo surgery just three days later. While there is no Achilles injury that is considered “good”, his was considered a “best-case scenario.” The tear occurred high on the tendon near the soleus muscle, resulting in a clean tear, and it is a location with better blood flow. This has resulted in a faster healing timeline than a lower tear of the tendon.
This, and the fact that he is a freak, has resulted in Kittle being ahead of schedule in his injury rehab. Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, Kyle Shanahan confirmed Kittle is aggressively targeting the 2026 season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia:
“I know there’s a chance to,” Shanahan said. “I know he’s working his butt off to do it. I don’t want to say he’s on track, but I think that’s what he’s shooting for. And I don’t put anything past Kittle. He works as hard as anyone.” In March, Kittle also discussed his injury timeline and progress on Bussin’ With The Boys, saying, “Doing great actually. I’m on and off of crutches. Got out of a boot like two weeks ago… The rehab is going great.”
Historically, high Achilles tears have allowed some NFL players to return in roughly eight months. Rams running back Cam Akers, for example, came back in just over five months. The San Francisco 49ers’ Week 1 game against the Rams will be roughly eight months after his injury, giving George Kittle fantasy football owners a lot to get excited about.
What Should George Kittle Fantasy Football Owners Do?
If you are a George Kittle dynasty fantasy football owner, you should be feeling good. There is no doubting Kittle’s ability and production when he is on the field. I still think Week 1 may be a bit bullish for a return. However, it does appear Kittle could be back in the lineup in October.
If you have Kittle in dynasty, there is one obvious thing you need to do: get Jake Tonges on your fantasy team.
Kittle’s season-ending injury came in the playoffs, but he still missed six regular-season games as well. This gave Jake Tonges a big opportunity to be the receiving tight end for the 49ers. He must have impressed the coaching staff, since San Francisco did not bring in anyone to compete for the spot behind Kittle.
Tonges played six games last season of over 65% of the offensive snaps. In those games, he totaled 29 receptions for 269 yards and three touchdowns. In PPR scoring, this is an average of 12.3 fantasy points per game. For comparison, Kyle Pitts finished as TE2 and he averaged 12.4 per game. George Kittle averaged 14.7 fantasy points per game.
Clearly, the starting tight end for the San Francisco 49ers is worth a start in fantasy football, so own both players. If you do, then you should feel comfortable with your starting TE spot in 2026.
