Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
De'Zhaun Stribling wasn't supposed to be a name 49ers fans knew before training camp. Now, two preseason games in, he's putting up numbers nobody's touched in over a decade — and the hosts can't agree on what it actually means. In this segment, the guys get into it over whether it's fair to get excited about a rookie wide receiver based on preseason production, or if that's the same trap fans fall into every single August. One side says the tape doesn't lie — the routes, the hands, the way he's getting open against real NFL competition. The other side says slow down, because preseason stat lines have fooled everybody before. They dig into some wild numbers, bring up the guys who used to doubt this pick, and land on one thing they can agree on: it's fun to watch right now.
Topics discussed include:
Whether it's too early to be excited about De'Zhaun Stribling
The backlash the 49ers got for drafting him in the second round
His record-setting preseason catch numbers
What "targets per route run" actually tells you about a rookie
Comparisons to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Tank Dell
Why preseason stats can be misleading — or can they?
Do you think Stribling is the real deal, or are we all getting ahead of ourselves? Let us know in the comments.
0:00 – Is It Too Early to Be Excited About Stribling?
2:37 – The Dane Rugler Mock Draft Debate
4:10 – The Matt Steinmetz "Liking It Early" Test
5:42 – Stribling's Wild Preseason Stat Records
7:00 – Do the Stats Actually Mean Anything?
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De'Zhaun Stribling wasn't supposed to be a name 49ers fans knew before training camp. Now, two preseason games in, he's putting up numbers nobody's touched in over a decade — and the hosts can't agree on what it actually means. In this segment, the guys get into it over whether it's fair to get excited about a rookie wide receiver based on preseason production, or if that's the same trap fans fall into every single August. One side says the tape doesn't lie — the routes, the hands, the way he's getting open against real NFL competition. The other side says slow down, because preseason stat lines have fooled everybody before. They dig into some wild numbers, bring up the guys who used to doubt this pick, and land on one thing they can agree on: it's fun to watch right now.
Topics discussed include:
Whether it's too early to be excited about De'Zhaun Stribling
The backlash the 49ers got for drafting him in the second round
His record-setting preseason catch numbers
What "targets per route run" actually tells you about a rookie
Comparisons to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Tank Dell
Why preseason stats can be misleading — or can they?
Do you think Stribling is the real deal, or are we all getting ahead of ourselves? Let us know in the comments.
0:00 – Is It Too Early to Be Excited About Stribling?
2:37 – The Dane Rugler Mock Draft Debate
4:10 – The Matt Steinmetz "Liking It Early" Test
5:42 – Stribling's Wild Preseason Stat Records
7:00 – Do the Stats Actually Mean Anything?
Download the Audacy app to never miss any of your favorite 957 The Game content:
go.audacy.com/y-listen-live-957thegame
Listen live: audacy.com/957thegame/listen
Visit our website: 957thegame.com
Subscribe on Twitch: twitch.tv/957thegame
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/957thegame
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/957thegame
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/957thegame
Join our Newsletter: audacy.com/957thegame/join-our-clubs/mvp-club
