SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-1) at RAMS (3-1)
When: 5:15 p.m. Thursday
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/Radio: Amazon Prime Video/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 225, 226
Line: Rams by 3.5
Notable injury designations
49ers: OUT: QB Brock Purdy (toe), WR Ricky Pearsall (knee), WR Jauan Jennings (ankle, rib), WR Jordan Watkins (calf), DE Robert Beal (ankle); QUESTIONABLE: DT C.J. West (thumb).
Rams: DOUBTFUL: TE Tyler Higbee (hip), RT Rob Havenstein (ankle).
What’s at stake? The Rams and 49ers are in a three-way tie with the Seattle Seahawks atop the NFC West standings. It’s still early, but a win here would let either team enjoy the weekend off knowing they remain in first place in the division entering Week 6.
Who’s better? At this point, the Rams are the healthier and therefore better team. With TE George Kittle, WR Brandon Aiyuk and DE Nick Bosa on injured reserve and Purdy, Jennings and Pearsall ruled out this week due to their own health issues, the Niners could not have had a worse week to be playing on short rest.
Matchup to watch: Rams OLB Jared Verse vs. 49ers LT Trent Williams. Verse is never one to shy away from trash talk on the field, but when asked if he planned to engage with Williams, he said, “I don’t lie down for anybody, I don’t change up who I am for anybody. But I also am not dumb. I’d rather let a sleeping giant sleep. I’m not going to wake up nobody that’s minding their business.” Such is the level of respect for Williams and the career he’s put together. One of the best young pass rushers in the NFL against one of the best veteran pass protectors – need we say more?
Rams win if: They improve on their third-down conversion rate, reaching the line to gain at least 50% of the time. … They play sticky coverage on RB Christian McCaffrey, who is second on the Niners with 305 receiving yards, 226 of which have come after the catch. If the Rams can get him down at the point of the catch – far easier said than done – they can stall San Francisco.
Fantasy sleeper: 49ers TE Jake Tonges. Someone has to catch the ball if Jennings and Pearsall can’t play, right? Tonges has been productive in Kittle’s absence and should have opportunities Thursday with all the other pass catchers ruled out.
Prediction: Rams 30, 49ers 17. Beat reporter’s record: 4-0 on the season; 3-1 against the spread.