49ers Add RB Khalil Herbert to 90-Man Roster in Depth Move

The 49ers rounded out their 90-man roster this weekend with a familiar type of move, signing running back Khalil Herbert and defensive lineman Titus Leo. Herbert is the name fantasy managers will recognize — a 2021 sixth-round pick who spent his first three seasons in Chicago before bouncing between the Bears and Bengals in 2024 and then landing with the Jets.

His most recent tape isn't inspiring. Herbert carried the ball just 16 times for 52 yards across seven games with New York last season — a 3.25 yards-per-carry clip that reads more like a fifth back than a rotation piece. This is a depth and camp-competition signing, not a proclamation about San Francisco's backfield plans.

To make room, the Niners waived defensive lineman Mikail Kamara with an injury designation and released cornerback Eli Apple. Leo, the other new arrival, tallied four tackles in four games with the Patriots in 2024 before spending time on the Eagles' practice squad. Neither piece changes the fantasy math in the Bay Area.

For context on how active San Francisco has been, the league's Sunday transaction report also showed the team working out linebackers Andre Carter, Ogbo Okoronkwo, and Xavier Thomas. Translation: this is a front office kicking a lot of tires in early August, filling out the back end of the roster while it sorts through the churn of training camp.

The Fantasy Fallout

Here's the honest read: Herbert isn't a draftable asset in any standard format right now. He's a veteran fighting for one of the last spots on the depth chart, and even making the initial 53 isn't a lock. The 49ers backfield hierarchy is set well ahead of him, and a running back who logged single-digit touches most weeks last year doesn't move into flex conversations by changing jerseys.

That said, San Francisco's backfield has a well-documented history of injuries, and depth signings occasionally turn into something. If camp reports start suggesting Herbert is climbing the ladder — or if the guys above him land on the injury report — he's worth a bookmark in deeper dynasty and best-ball builds. For now, leave him on the wire and keep your attention on the established names. This is a watch-and-wait, nothing more.