One of the most important games of the season for the San Francisco 49ers takes place this Sunday. Their second matchup against the Los Angeles Rams could give the team a major edge in the NFC West, improving to 4-0 in divisional play, with another division game coming up in Week 11 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Although the Rams are favored even on the road, the 49ers could once again play the underdog role as they did in Week 5 in Los Angeles. To do that, however, they’ll once again have to overcome the injuries that have thinned out their roster. With that in mind, here are two players who must step up for San Francisco to have a shot at victory.
RB Christian McCaffrey
In the first matchup between these teams, Christian McCaffrey was the 49ers’ best offensive player, recording 22 carries for 57 yards and eight receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown. While he wasn’t particularly effective running the ball, he was the most involved playmaker on the field.
McCaffrey is ranked as the eighth-best running back by the PFSN RB Impact Meter, earning a B grade. That reflects the impact he brings to Kyle Shanahan’s offense, providing a reliable checkdown option while also being able to run routes from the slot or even line up as a wideout.
He leads the NFL in scrimmage yards entering Week 10, with 1,222 total yards and eight touchdowns this season. In five career games against the Rams, McCaffrey has averaged 158 total yards and scored six total touchdowns, making them his most productive opponent.
Still without Ricky Pearsall and with Mac Jones under center, McCaffrey is once again expected to be a key part of Shanahan’s game plan to defeat the NFL’s second-ranked defense in the PFSN Defense Impact Meter.
EDGE Bryce Huff
The 49ers have lost both of their starting edge rushers for the season. Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams each suffered ACL tears, leaving the pass-rushing group severely depleted.
Over the past two weeks, Huff has been dealing with a hamstring injury, but before that, he delivered a strong performance against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7, with five tackles, two QB hits and a sack.
The additions of Keion White and Clelin Ferrell have helped, and Ferrell even recorded his first sack since returning to the 49ers last week against the New York Giants. Still, the team will need more from Huff, who now holds the role of San Francisco’s top edge rusher and leads the team in sacks this season with four.
Matthew Stafford leads the NFL in passing touchdowns with 21 and is playing at an MVP-caliber level, guiding one of the league’s top offenses. If he’s given time to throw without pressure, San Francisco’s chances of winning drop significantly.
Huff will need to step up as the trusted player Robert Saleh envisioned when he brought him in from the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, and this game presents his best opportunity yet to take on a leading role in the defense.
