The San Francisco 49ers are shaping up to be a fantasy football goldmine in 2026, and one of their stars is quietly flying under the radar in early mock drafts. Quarterback Brock Purdy, who battled through a toe injury early last season, is being hailed as a sleeper pick that could pay huge dividends for savvy fantasy managers.

After missing significant time in 2025 due to a Week 1 toe injury—which thrust former first-round pick Mac Jones into the starting role—Purdy returned with a vengeance. Over the final seven games of the regular season, he completed 70.6% of his passes for 1,581 yards, 16 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. He also added 117 rushing yards and three scores on the ground, proving his dual-threat capability.

Now, with a revamped receiving corps featuring veteran stars Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, along with second-round rookie De'Zhaun Stribling, Purdy's supporting cast is stronger than ever. This has CBS Sports' Heath Cummings sounding the alarm: "One day, people will stop doubting Brock Purdy as a top 12 Fantasy QB. Today is not that day, as I am the only one at CBS with Purdy ranked as a top 12 option."

Cummings makes a compelling case. Since entering the NFL in 2022, Purdy leads all quarterbacks with at least 1,000 pass attempts in yards per attempt (8.6) and ranks second only to Lamar Jackson in touchdown rate (6.2%). He's also boosted his fantasy floor with 19.6 rushing yards per game over the past two seasons. Purdy has averaged over 20 fantasy points per game in three straight seasons, including a 23.9-point average in 2025—despite the injury.

"The team added Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, and De'Zhaun Stribling in the offseason, adding depth at a position they desperately needed it," Cummings added. "Unless disaster strikes in San Francisco, I think it is more likely that Purdy is a top six QB than it is that he falls outside of the top 12."

Over the final seven weeks of last season, Purdy averaged 21.3 fantasy points per game, landing him in the top 10 among quarterbacks during that stretch. With more weapons at his disposal—even as tight end George Kittle recovers from a torn Achilles—the stage is set for Purdy to exceed expectations. For fantasy managers looking for a late-round steal, Purdy might just be the MVP of your 2026 draft.