Mike Clay· May 11, 2026
Clay's 2026 statistical projections for the 49ers, as read on air: modest rookie production, a healthy but slightly reduced Christian McCaffrey workload, and Mike Evans falling short of 1,000 receiving yards.
“Mike Clay has Dajon Stripling projected to get 34 targets as the the fourth wide receiver on the 40 niners offense next year. 22 catches for 322 yards and two touchdowns.”
said on air, transcribed by us · Locked On 49ers (podcast) · read the original →
20 checkable claims — 20 player season numbers — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 10 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 8.
Where this call stands in the room
Mike Evans · 2026 season · receiving yards3 calls from 3 pundits between 911 receiving yards and 1,000 receiving yards. Mike Clay said 911 receiving yards. the room's median is 1,000 receiving yards. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Their call against the room
receiving yardsTheir call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
20 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
Mike Evans to record 911 receiving yards
“57 catches for 911 yards, and six touchdowns for Mike Evans. So, not getting back on his thousand yard streak, according to these projections from ESPN's Mike Blay.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
De'Zhaun Stribling to record 2 receiving tds
“22 catches for 322 yards and two touchdowns.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brock Purdy to record 27 passing tds
“27 to 14 touchdown to interception ratio there”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Mike Evans to record 6 receiving tds
“57 catches for 911 yards, and six touchdowns for Mike Evans.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian McCaffrey to record 1,161 rushing yards
“281 rushing attempts, 1,161 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns, 78 catches, six eighty six yards, and five more, receiving touchdowns for Christian McCaffrey”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian McCaffrey to record 686 receiving yards
“78 catches, six eighty six yards”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brock Purdy to record 4,125 passing yards
“4,125 passing yards for Brock Purdey, 27 to 14 touchdown to interception ratio there, as part of the projections.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Mike Evans to record 57 receptions
“99 targets, 57 catches for 911 yards, and six touchdowns for Mike Evans.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
De'Zhaun Stribling to record 22 receptions
“Mike Clay has Dajon Stripling projected to get 34 targets as the the fourth wide receiver on the 40 niners offense next year. 22 catches for 322 yards and two touchdowns.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian Kirk to record 2 receiving tds
“24 catches for 337 yards and two touchdowns”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian McCaffrey to record 5 receiving tds
“five more, receiving touchdowns for Christian McCaffrey”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kaelon Black to record 185 rushing yards
“Kaitlyn Black, the third rounder, only 45 rushing attempts and a 185 rushing yards”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jordan James to record 344 rushing yards
“the number two running back here as projected is Jordan James with only 80 rushing attempts and 344 yards”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
De'Zhaun Stribling to record 322 receiving yards
“22 catches for 322 yards and two touchdowns.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian McCaffrey to record 10 rushing tds
“1,161 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian McCaffrey to record 78 receptions
“78 catches, six eighty six yards, and five more, receiving touchdowns for Christian McCaffrey”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brock Purdy to record 14 passing interceptions
“27 to 14 touchdown to interception ratio there”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian Kirk to record 337 receiving yards
“24 catches for 337 yards and two touchdowns”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Romello Height to record 0.9 sacks
“maybe one sack. 0.9 sacks is the projection here on a 106 snaps.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian Kirk to record 24 receptions
“Christian Kirk's barely more than dribbling in these projections as the the number three kinda slot receiver. 24 catches for 337 yards and two touchdowns.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · San Francisco 49ersHit · 81Simms went through every Week 2 game with predicted final scores, picking the Texans, Bears, Steelers (as an upset), Packers, Ravens, Eagles, Buccaneers, Panthers, Jaguars, Seahawks, Cowboys, 49ers, Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also reiterated that Denver was his preseason Super Bowl pick while predicting the Broncos would fall to 0-2.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · San Francisco 49ersHit · 88Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver.
- Richie BradshawScore Predictions · San Francisco 49ersHit · 83Bradshaw picks the 49ers to beat the Cardinals in their Week 3 matchup, predicting a final score of 27-14 in San Francisco's favor.
- Richard ShermanScore Predictions · San Francisco 49ersHit · 83Sherman picked winners and several exact scores across the Week 3 slate, favoring Seattle, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Detroit, Green Bay, Carolina, New Orleans, Baltimore, the Rams, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Kansas City, Minnesota, the Giants, Jacksonville and Houston, and named Kenneth Walker his MVP.
- Colin CowherdGame Outcome Picks · San Francisco 49ersHit · 100The co-host (identified only as "Mitchell") made his own Week 3 picks, including blowout wins for Seattle and San Francisco, Cincinnati 27-17, Detroit 37-13, Denver 24-21 over the Rams, and predicted Jonah Coleman takes over the Broncos' running back role.
- Tyler SullivanScore Predictions · San Francisco 49ersHit · 90Sullivan projects final scores for every Week 3 game, including a Bills blowout of the reeling Chargers, a Chiefs rout in Miami, a Seahawks win over a Mariota-led Washington, and the Saints beating the Raiders in their home opener. He also expects Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart all to be sidelined in Week 3, with Marcus Mariota starting for Washington.
More player season numbers
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Ross JacksonPlayer Season Numbers · Tyler ShoughMiss · 4Jackson projects a big sophomore jump for Saints QB Tyler Shuck, laying out a Drake May-style stat line (17 starts, 72% completions, ~4,601 passing yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs) or a Bo Nix-style consistency line (over 4,000 yards, over 20 TDs, ~10 INTs), and says either path means a playoff season for New Orleans in 2026.
- Chris BroussardPlayer Season Numbers · Lamar JacksonMiss · 0Broussard expects Lamar Jackson to play well but not vintage — two touchdown passes and no picks — while Derrick Henry carries the load with over 100 rushing yards. He also takes the Browns to upset the Bengals and believes Myles Garrett gets at least two sacks to break the single-season record.
- Nick WrightPlayer Season Numbers · Myles GarrettHit · 100Wright picks the Steelers to beat the Ravens outright in Pittsburgh, takes Seattle over San Francisco, and thinks the Browns lose to Cincinnati even as Myles Garrett gets the sack record.
- Nick WrightPlayer Season Numbers · Myles GarrettHit · 84Nick Wright says Myles Garrett is playing at an all-time level and might reach 25 sacks this season, and among his weekly picks he expects the Bears to beat the Steelers in an ugly low-margin home win and Seattle to win comfortably at Tennessee.
- Shannon SharpePlayer Season Numbers · T.J. WattMiss · 0On a Bengals-Steelers matchup, Sharpe took the over on several player props: Ja'Marr Chase over 74.5 receiving yards, Joe Flacco over 36.5 pass attempts, and T.J. Watt over 3.5 tackles+assists, adding that Watt will get two sacks. He also predicted Rico Dowdle would make the Pro Bowl this season.
- Rich EisenPlayer Season Numbers · Micah ParsonsClose · 56Eisen made a series of picks: Micah Parsons will out-sack any two Cowboys combined (after initially leaning the other way), the NFC North is more likely to produce a Super Bowl team than the NFC East, Eagles wins will outnumber Cowboys losses, Bo Nix/Courtland Sutton will out-touchdown Cam Ward/Calvin Ridley, and Marvin Harrison Jr./James Conner will beat Kamara/Olave in yards and TDs. He also picked the AFC West order and said Deion Sanders is more likely than Bill Belichick to have a winning record.