Los Angeles Rams @ San Fransisco 49ers Matchup Preview 12/21/19: Analysis, Daily Fantasy

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The Rams are heading to Levi’s Stadium to take on the 49ers this Saturday. The Rams were looking great in weeks 13 and 14. Gurley was getting the ball a lot more and looking more and more like 2018 Gurley, and their offense was looking a lot more like the 2018 Rams in general. That hot streak was crushed in a big loss to the Cowboys last week and it will be tough to build that momentum back up against the 49ers. The 49ers, however, are also coming off of a very tough loss against the Falcons. I think the 49ers are still going to take the win against the Rams due to their offensive and defensive power but the myriad injuries in the 49ers defense could open the door to a big win for the Rams. Click here for more details and betting information on the Rams @ 49ers matchup this Saturday.

TV Schedule

Date: Saturday, December 21, 2019
Time: 5:15 PM PST
Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
Coverage: NFLN

Injury Report

Rams: Gerald Everett (Q), Greg Zuerlein (Q), Rob Havenstein (Q), Troy Hill (Q), JoJo Natson (O)
49ers: K’Waun Williams (Q), Jullian Taylor (Q), Jaquiski Tartt (Q), Dee Ford (Q)

Rams Analysis

The Rams were the perfect trampoline for the Cowboys to bounce off of into playoff talks this Sunday. They allowed the Cowboys to put up 28 points in the first half alone, while they only scored 7. Todd Gurley was held at a near standstill. He ran the ball 11 times for 20 yards and a touchdown, an average 1.8 yards per carry. Considering Gurley had a 95 yard game in week 13 and a 79 yard game in week 14, these numbers are hugely disappointing. He had been trending upward for the past few games and was starting to look like the Gurley of 2018, just like the Rams offense was starting to look like the Rams of 2018. Gurley is a huge part of this offense and when he’s shut down or underutilized or both, the Rams aren’t nearly as powerful. And I’m afraid that is what is going to happen this week against the 49ers. The 49ers allow an average 114.6 yards per game on the ground, only around 10 or 11 more than the Cowboys do. Especially with Nick Bosa up front, the Rams rushing offense is going to be tested. The 49ers’ secondary has faced some injuries which might make throwing against them easier, but the 49ers allow the fewest yards per game through the air. The Rams offense has been underpowered for most of the season and went back to that trend in their game against the Cowboys, and it’s going to be very hard to get out of that rut against the 49ers defense.

Despite their expensive and talented personnel, the Rams defense looked rough last week. They allowed the Cowboys to put up 44 points. The 49ers score an average 29.9 points per game, the 23nd most in the league just behind the Ravens, so the offensive onslaught is not going to stop. The 49ers are a tough, dynamic offense with a lot of weapons. The Rams defense is in the top half of the league for both running and passing, but numbers like that don’t always mean a lot, as we saw against the Cowboys. I’m expecting a tough game for this Rams defense but if they are a top 10 passing defense, so there’s a chance they slow down the passing game enough to stay in this one.

Los Angeles Rams Depth Chart

QB: Jared Goff
RB1: Todd Gurley
RB2: Malcolm Brown
WR1: Brandin Cooks
WR2: Robert Woods
WR3: Cooper Kupp
TE: Gerald Everett

49ers Analysis

The 49ers are also coming off of a tough loss in a big upset against the Falcons. George Kittle had a huge game on Saturday and was pretty much the only 49er who did. He had 13 receptions for 134 yards. The next most receptions for a 49ers receiver on Sunday was 2. George Kittle is a huge weapon for the 49ers and was basically their entire passing offense on Sunday with more receptions than the rest of the team combined. Obviously, this is a problem if he is shut down, but based on how the Rams played against the Cowboys I don’t think that will happen. The Rams were pretty good at keeping Amari Cooper contained last week but Kittle is a bigger than Cooper and therefore I think it’ll be a tougher ask. The Rams allowed the Cowboys over 150 yards on the ground and I think this is how the 49ers are going to get a lot of stuff done on Sunday. The 49ers have a very dynamic run game with Mostert, Breida, and Coleman. If the Cowboys game is any indication, they’re going to be able to get through the Rams defense with relative ease.

The biggest reason for their loss on Sunday was their defense. The 49ers secondary was hit hard by injuries and they were missing Richard Sherman, Jaquiski Tartt, and K’Waun Williams, all key parts of this defense just to name a few. Luckily, it seems like Sherman will be back and that Williams is also trying to get ready for Sunday, so they won’t be as limited. However, the Rams are still an explosive offense. They’re not as explosive as they were last season, but they’ve shown glimpses of their past selves especially in weeks 13 and 14, so if the 49ers are underprepared or still limited by injuries there’s a chance the Rams could explode against them. However, I still think the 49ers have the edge in this game with their great passing defense which has allowed an average of only 154.4 passing yards per game, the fewest in the league.

San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart

QB: Jimmy Garoppolo
RB1: Tevin Coleman
RB2: Matt Breida
WR1: Emmanuel Sanders
WR2: Deebo Samuel
WR3: Marquise Goodwin
TE: George Kittle

Fantasy

Raheem Mostert is still available in a little less than 40% of leagues. It seems that he’s become the starting back for the 49ers over the past couple of weeks given the amount of carries he gets compared to Breida and Coleman. He’s a great back with a great offensive line in a powerful offense, and the fact that there’s still a ~40% chance he’s available in your league should get you excited. He has big game potential and could really help your chances in the fantasy playoffs. If you’re looking for a receiver you might want to check out Deebo Samuel. He’s owned in around 56% of leagues and (except for a tougher game against the Falcons last week) has had 5 straight 10+ point games in a row in PPR leagues, two of those being above 18 points. He’s another player with big play potential that could provide a big boost for your fantasy team this weekend.