Week 5 opens with a Thursday night barn burner of a matchup, as 49ers vs. Rams sees division rivals battle for the top spot in the NFC West.
Even in the somewhat early stages of the season, the importance of this meeting (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video) can’t be understated. Three NFC West teams boast 3-1 records, and the Cardinals aren’t far behind at 2-2.
Add in 49ers QB Brock Purdy (still) nursing an injury and being ruled out, and you’ve got a recipe for chaos.
Below, we’ll cover a PrizePicks 49ers vs. Rams TNF prediction and some same-game NFL DFS picks to monitor. Use PrizePicks for Week 5 and win real rewards when you’re right.
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49ers vs. Rams Prediction, Picks for TNF
- Believe it or not, the 49ers and Rams have tied three times in their series history. TNF marks the 153rd time the two powerhouses will square off. San Fran currently has the 78-71-3 advantage, including a 6-4 record in the last 10.
- Could the tides be turning? Rams HC Sean McVay’s L.A. crew knocked off his 49ers counterpart Kyle Shanahan’s squad twice last season, although both outings were decided by a combined nine points.
- A 49ers win would prevent the Rams from challenging their most successful stretch in the rivalry this century. Los Angeles triumphed in 10 of 12 from 1999-2004, including a six-game winning streak.
San Francisco 49ers Preview
- The 49ers have been hit hard by the injury bug. TE George Kittle, WRs Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall, and Purdy are all out this week, with Kittle remaining on injured reserve.
- Purdy said he’s feeling “a lot better compared to” Week 1, when he suffered a turf toe, but San Francisco kept backup Mac Jones on speed dial and will roll with him on Thursday.
- The 49ers rattled off three wins in a row to open the season — two came with Jones under center. In Purdy’s return for Week 4, they dropped an ugly 4-turnover outing to the Jaguars, 26-21.
- Despite the missing players, Shanahan’s passing game leads the sport in success rate, according to Jefe’s Handiwork.
Los Angeles Rams Preview
- After back-to-back 10-7 campaigns and tough playoff losses, the Rams are strong out of the gate. This is their first 3-1 start since 2021-22, the season they won Super Bowl LVI.
- Los Angeles has scored 33 points twice this year and ranks sixth in overall success rate on offense.
- Don’t sleep on defensive coordinator Chris Shula’s group, either. L.A.’s defense is fifth in EPA/play, including a No. 2 ranking against the pass.
- The Rams are the only NFC West club to not play a divisional game yet this year. Everyone else has already done so twice.
49ers vs. Rams Same Game Picks for NFL DFS & PrizePicks
Here’s a trio of 49ers vs. Rams picks for Week 5 of the NFL season. Same-game PrizePicks player projections to target include Brian Robinson Jr., Christian McCaffrey, and Puka Nacua.
49ers RB Brian Robinson Jr. Projection: 17.5 Rush Yards
- Since coming over from the Commanders via trade, Robinson has received fewer opportunities than he saw in Washington. He’s never logged this low a number of carries (22) over any four-game stretch.
- Volume notwithstanding, Robinson is more efficient in year four. His success rate (59.1%) and yards per attempt (4.4) are career-bests.
- Robinson went over Week 5’s projection of 16.5 yards in each game this year, doubling that figure in the opener against the Seahawks.
- Robinson averages 3.94 yards per carry against the NFC West, 3.78 YPC in late games and 3.44 YPC on Thursdays.
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey Projection: 61.5 Rush Yards
- Entering Week 5, McCaffrey is the NFL’s only player with at least 100 touches. The 29-year-old is certainly earning his keep.
- In typical CMC fashion, he’s been expected to score more fantasy points in the red zone than any RB through four games.
- San Fran is giving McCaffrey 17.3 attempts per game, the highest total since his peak with the Panthers in 2019-2020. His 3.3 yards per carry, however, marks a career-low.
- McCaffrey’s significant rushing workload hasn’t translated to finding the end zone. The 49ers are the NFL’s lone team without a rushing TD.
- L.A. has yet to surrender a rushing TD.
Rams WR Puka Nacua Projection: 95.5 Receiving Yards
- Name a more productive WR than Puka Nacua this year. That's right, you can’t. He leads the league in receptions (42) and yards (503) in just his third season.
- In three career contests against the 49ers, Nacua averages exactly 95 yards per game. In his lone rivalry game last season, he had 7 catches for 97 yards.
- Despite being thrown seemingly every ball in sight, Nacua has yet to record a drop. He has 15 more receptions without a drop than the next-closest NFL player (Amon-Ra St. Brown, 27).
- The Rams boast the eighth-highest pass rate over expected (0.8%) and the NFL’s best explosive play rate (59.3%).
Make 49ers vs. Rams Picks on PrizePicks
This battle of 3-1 rivals is, on paper, one of the most appealing of Week 5, and PrizePicks is here to help you join the NFL DFS action. Whether it’s a set of 49ers vs. Rams picks or another game, we’ve got you covered.
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