Jake

Tonges

Great news. Kittle will be a limited participant in Tuesday evening’s walkthrough. The talented tight end sat out in Week 17 after missing practice all week. Backup TE Jake Tonges caught 7-of-8 targets for 60 yards and one touchdown in Kittle’s stead. If Kittle is unable to face the Seahawks on Saturday, Tonges will again be a viable streamer.

Tonges was active throughout as a primary outlet for quarterback Brock Purdy over the middle of the field, also seeing numerous designed targets in the flat. His target total was bolstered by a game in which the two teams combined for over 940 yards of total offense and 80 points. Although the outburst in production was a welcome sight to fantasy mangers that scooped Tonges as a plan B option to Kittle, his role appears likely to take a significant hit with Kittle expected back for Week 18 against the Seahawks.

Tonges operated as the Niners’ primary pass-catching tight end earlier this season when Kittle was sidelined with an injury, and could find himself in that role again this week against the Bears if Kittle — who sustained a “low to mid” ankle sprain on Monday night — is sidelined. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said he’s confident Tonges can take on the role and be a productive part of the team’s red-hot passing offense. Tonges had 22 receptions over five games with Kittle out in the first half of the season. He would be a viable 14-team league option against the Bears if Kittle can’t suit up.

The only answer the 49ers reliably had against the Todd Bowles blitz was the Tonges screen, and he managed 38 yards, 27 after the catch, when targeted on blitzes per TruMedia. Mac Jones had only nine passing yards on 11 dropbacks on blitzes when he didn’t target Tonges. The 49ers are one of the real life teams that truly scrapes new meaning out of the term week-to-week right now. Tonges’ status for Week 7 will depend on if George Kittle is activated off injured reserve or not. If Tonges starts, he can again remain a high-floor, low-end TE1 option against the Falcons.

Aside from the yards, it was an evening of new career highs across the board, while the touchdown was Tonges’ third in five 2025 appearances. This, after he entered the season with one career target and zero catches. Tonges has exceeded the wildest expectations for his George Kittle caretaking, but Kittle is eligible to return from his hamstring injury in Week 6, and the early reports are that he just may do so. Tonges’ time in the fantasy TE2 sun could be at an end.

Tonges was hurt early in the game, but would come back and be a featured target for a depleted 49ers passing attack. His touchdown came on a well-designed screen that gave him plenty of open space to operate. Tonges wound up playing 39 snaps. There’s not much TE1 upside here, but Tonges has been a respectable fill-in for the 49ers in George Kittle’s absence.

Tonges is the 49ers’ top tight end with George Kittle on injured reserve, but there isn’t much fantasy value to be had in Kittle’s wake. Tonges was the only San Francisco tight end to earn a target in this game and still managed a measly eight percent target share. Tonges is not on the fantasy radar heading into Week 4.

Luke Farrell scored a touchdown in George Kittle’s absence, but Tonges was the closest thing the 49ers had to a No. 1 tight end. He now has seven grabs for 46 yards and a score through two 2025 appearances. Good stuff for the 49ers, but it’s difficult to envision Tonges truly putting himself on the map in 12-team leagues.

He’ll miss at least the next four games and be eligible to return in Week 6 against the Buccaneers. Kittle is a tough hold in shallow leagues without an injured reserve spot, but given the state of the 49ers offense he probably remains a hold. If Brock Purdy starts this week — that also seems to be in some question — it sounds like Christian McCaffrey will get all the workload he can handle against the Saints. Jauan Jennings feels like a question mark as well but would step in to a major role against the Saints if he can play, along with Ricky Pearsall. Jake Tonges will replace Kittle in the 49ers lineup and isn’t a recommended streamer at this point, though he did catch a touchdown against the Seahawks in Week 1.

Kittle exited in the second quarter of Sunday’s win over the Seahawks and did not return to the field. The veteran tight end dealt with two hamstring injuries last season and will now attempt to work his way back from another to start this season. Kittle caught four passes for 25 yards and a score before his injury. Backup tight end Jake Tonges stepped up to catch 3-of-3 targets for 15 yards and a touchdown, but shouldn’t be counted on as a streaming option in Week 2 against the Saints.