# Chris Welsh: Welsh expects Christian Kirk to return from injury in Week 5 and immediately take over slot work and targets, making the 49ers' current receiver uncertainty a one-week issue. **Claimed:** Sep 28, 2026 **Pundit:** Chris Welsh — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/chris-welsh **Outlet:** FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/fantasypros-fantasy-football-podcast-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview **Original:** https://prfx.byspotify.com/e/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/clrtpod.com/m/arttrk.com/p/D5CA5/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/a425ba31-4316-4647-847e-b0030136e912/a2367ac6-5e93-4f69-be7a-b4d30115572c/audio.mp3?in_playlist=0afc299b-d04e-4bd7-91a8-b0030136e938 One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened. Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in. > Christian Kirk is going to be back in week five, and I know that's eye-rolling, but he's going to dominate slot and targets. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **It's also probably one week, just to throw out, because Christian Kirk is going to be back in week five, and I know that's eye-rolling, but he's going to dominate slot and targets.** - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Christian Kirk - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Christian Kirk — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/christian-kirk ## What others said about the same people - Brian Peacock on Christian Kirk: Peacock lays out his projected 53-man roster for the 49ers, position by position: three specialists, three quarterbacks (including Curtis Rourke), five running backs, six receivers (cutting Christian Kirk), three tight ends (cutting Braden Willis), nine offensive linemen, ten defensive linemen (with Mykel Williams on PUP), five linebackers, six cornerbacks and four safeties. He also predicts a new player will take center snaps in preseason week three. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/62e9aad7-105c-45a0-95b3-3b43b64603ae (not settled) - Nathan Jahnke on Christian Kirk: PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a large number of depth-chart, role and fantasy-value calls across the league, including Chig Okonkwo as a top sleeper tight end, Tre Tucker as the Raiders' top receiver, and various backfield hierarchies. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/760054fd-7815-4b86-a9e3-bc9bdb0a730b (not settled) - Tom Jensen on Christian Kirk: Jensen projects the 49ers' final 53-man roster ahead of the August 30 cutdown, naming a long list of players he expects to be released outright, another group he expects to be cut and return on the practice squad ("boomerang cuts"), and three borderline players (Jordan James, Jacob Cowing, James Thompson Jr.) he believes San Francisco will keep. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/30bfad12-5ff9-49d2-8849-9df9b47a054d (not settled) - Jose Sanchez on Christian Kirk: Sanchez says the preseason opener hurt several 49ers: he expects Christian Kirk and Jacob Cowing to be cut, Nick Martin to be off the team (possibly traded to the Titans), and he sets De'Zhaun Stribling as the No. 3 receiver with Demarcus Robinson No. 4. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/219f274f-6c63-44e0-a95e-72f2c0f2cf4d (not settled) - Walt on Christian Kirk: Walter Football's 2026 fantasy football wide receiver rankings (Nos. 61-95), with projected receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns and fantasy points for each player. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/48a37706-d14d-4726-b540-c53fe2126b50 (not settled) - Chris Broussard on Christian Kirk: Broussard stuck with the Spurs to win the Finals in seven games, said the Patriots will beat Pittsburgh in their season opener stretch, and slotted DeVonta Smith as the Eagles' No. 1 receiver and Christian Kirk as San Francisco's third receiver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7b0b482d-d3c8-4b34-b0bc-7cc535c9c6f4 (not settled) ## More availability calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Mike Florio on Myles Garrett: Florio expects the Rams won't open Myles Garrett's practice window this week, which means the defensive end will sit out the Week 6 game against the Cardinals. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/21b0fd45-dc08-4993-b3a6-c44ea5d4f81b (not settled) - Donnie Druin on Marvin Harrison Jr.: Druin writes that Marvin Harrison Jr. is headed out of Arizona and projects to be traded to the Houston Texans, with the deal expected to be completed well before the Nov. 10 deadline. He also expects Harrison to sit out Arizona's Week 5 home game against Detroit. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8ddb9ff4-c483-4b8d-b4d0-a978465f7c85 (not settled) - Jason La Canfora on Lamar Jackson: La Canfora writes that Lamar Jackson is out for the Ravens' Sunday night game against Atlanta and may miss the following week as well, with Tyler 'Snoop' Huntley taking over at quarterback. He also doubts Marvin Harrison Jr. will become the Ravens' complementary downfield threat. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/11ca8085-2398-4f8c-95b7-9da6f25ba5d5 (not settled) - Chad Jensen on Ladd McConkey: Jensen expects Chargers receiver Ladd McConkey, listed as questionable with a foot injury after not practicing all week, to sit out Sunday's game against Denver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2bb2b7d1-921f-46e4-ad3e-61b6ac77b679 (not settled) - Patricia Traina on Jihad Ward: With Chauncey Golston placed on IR, Traina expects newly signed Jihad Ward to be active against Washington and absorb a significant defensive role in Golston's place. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/bc0d835f-406e-4fdb-ac72-89ed4bf46c62 (not settled) - Donnie Druin on Walter Nolen: Druin reads the Cardinals' Saturday roster moves as an indication that defensive lineman Walter Nolen III, listed questionable with a calf injury, is expected to be available for Sunday's Week 5 game against the Lions, and that linebacker Karson Sharar should also be good to go. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ca3580c8-0e85-4615-9610-6a3a29c3bb6b (not settled) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. 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