Aloha,

Brock Purdy is the MVP frontrunner and it's not particularly close. That's the new Take on Essential49ers today: the numbers (126.2 rating, zero sacks), the Marino holy-shit stat, the MASH unit he's throwing to, and the all-time record waiting 34 attempts away.

Read it here: https://essential49ers.com/takes/2026-10-08-mvpurdy.html

The seven stories that matter today:

1. John Lynch confirms the 49ers are making calls ahead of the trade deadline. The Krueg Show has the clip. The window is open and Lynch knows it.
2. Matt Maiocco breaks down 49ers vs. Seahawks. Key matchups, Mike Evans' impact, and what Sunday at Lumen Field will actually come down to. (KNBR 680)
3. Mike Evans is happy to be getting exactly what he expected. Jennifer Lee Chan on the future Hall of Famer playing through a rib injury because this is what he came for. (NBC Sports Bay Area)
4. Brock Purdy leads NFL Media's MVP tracker. Kevin Patra: nobody in football is playing the position at his level right now. (49ers Webzone)
5. The 49ers' 4-0 start ranks among the best since 1977. 54.8% DVOA, 11th-best through four weeks. The passing offense is third-best in that span. (Niners Wire)
6. Lynch on Juszczyk's knee: "That had ACL written all over it." Relief that the fullback avoided the worst, but he's shelved 2-3 weeks. (49ers Webzone)
7. Connor Colby is seizing his second chance. The seventh-rounder keeps showing up, including the wheels on Kittle's long touchdown. (49ers Hub)

That's the route. See you tomorrow.

Anthony Essential49ers.com — every Niners story, every day.