San Francisco 49ers: Richard Sherman, players to watch vs. Packers
Richie James
Dante Pettis is again out for the 49ers and slot receiver Trent Taylor is doubtful with a back injury, presenting another opportunity for rookie seventh-round pick Richie James. James had just one catch for seven yards, and another reception called back on a holding penalty, versus Arizona, playing from an X receiver position largely unfamiliar to him.
With Taylor poised to be out of the equation, James should receive plenty of snaps from his preferred slot position and will look to make a significant impact on the primetime stage after a series of dynamic performances in preseason.
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The return of the 49ers best receiver Marquise Goodwin provides San Francisco with a field stretching option on the outside, and he will be able to have an even greater influence if James can continually cause the Packers problems over the middle.
Cassius Marsh
The lack of talent at on the edge has been a continual source of frustration for 49ers fans, but San Francisco’s primary LEO pass rusher Cassius Marsh had his best game of the season last week, logging a sack, a quarterback hit and a tackle for loss as he regularly beat Cardinals right tackle Andre Smith round the edge.
Marsh must now look to back up that performance and justify the faith shown in him by this coaching staff by producing against a banged-up Packers offensive line. Starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee) and backup Jason Spriggs (ankle) are both questionable for Green Bay. If they are both ruled out, then guard Justin McCray, himself battling a shoulder issue, will likely have to shift outside.
If the 49ers are to have even a faint hope of stunning the Packers, they will have to consistently get Rodgers on the ground. How Marsh performs against either an injured Bulaga or Spriggs or a player operating out of position in McCray will be pivotal to their hopes of doing so.