2025 Week 5 TNF Fantasy Football Preview : SF @ LAR

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  • By Jon Mosales

    Last Updated on October 2, 2025 12:42 pm by Jon Mosales | Published: October 2, 2025

    TNF – San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Rams

    Point spread: 49ers +8.5 | RAMS +8.5

    Moneyline: 49ers +340 | LAR -450

    Total: Over 44.5 | Under 44.5

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    Overview:

    This was going to be a great matchup on paper as these teams have history and are both elite, but now with SF decimated by injuries again, it’s just another TNF game.  On paper these teams are balanced as the Rams are top-10 in rushing and passing on offense and defense.  The Niners have a top-five offense, but not without Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings.  If the Niners are going to have any chance, they will need to pound Christian McCaffrey into the ground and through the air.  This is a battle of the usage kings as CMC and Puka Nacua are two of the best at their respective positions.  SF isn’t just broken on offense, they are also missing Joey Bosa and not getting any pressure on defense.  They have five sacks through four games and failed to sack the Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence on Sunday.  The 49ers have held opponents to a 32% conversion rate on third down for the second-best mark in the NFL There are the classic bend, but don’t break, but Matt Stafford has made a career on breaking defenses.  If this game were in SF, maybe they would have a chance, but on a short week with no depth, is there even a point of putting this much tread on CMC’s tires.  If the Rams get up big early, it’s possible SF shuts it down and tries to get out of LA without losing anymore bodies, but we’ve seen stranger things happen than a division upset between two rivals.

    Quarterbacks:

    Mac Jones is about as good a backup QB as there is in the league.  He has two top-15 finishes, but this isn’t the game to trust him once more.  With his three top weapons down, he can’t just check down to CMC every play.  With so many other QB injuries and bye weeks kicking in, he’s got low-end value if you’re desperate.  He did run the ball six times in his first game, but he only had six yards, it’s possible he looks to use his feet more in this one.  Matt Stafford is the throwback fantasy QB, who can only score points with his arm, but it was good enough last week as he was the QB2.  With Puka Nacua and Davante Adams running wild, it’s pretty easy for Stafford to pile up the fantasy points.  The past couple of seasons he started slow and everyone expected that this season, but instead he has eight TDs through four games.  The only problem is that SF has his number.  In eight career games against the 49ers, he’s had 20-plus fantasy points twice.  You have to start him in SF leagues, but in 1QB leagues, this doesn’t profile as a shootout.

    Running Backs:

    CMC is killing it as a receiver as he as double-digit targets in three of the four games.  With no receiving threats this week, there is a great chance they build the offense around CMC getting the ball in space, but the Rams will also be expecting that.  He doesn’t have a rushing TD yet which is concerning as he also doesn’t have over 70 rushing yards in a game, but the PPR machine keeps rolling.  He is third in the league in receptions and eighth in receiving yards across all positions.  Brian Robinson Jr. is an elite stash, but he’s not getting enough work and hasn’t scored like so many other backup RBs have.  On the other side, Kyren Williams is losing his grip as a bell cow.  He’s still got at least 17 carries in three of the four games, but he went down to 13 last week as Blake Corum is getting better and stronger.  This week, they face the 49ers, who are the sixth best against fantasy running backs.  You still start Williams as 66 yards is the least he’s had, but the one rushing TD takes the shine off as he is only the RB16 on the season.  In Week 4, Corum had a career high in opportunities, with nine rushes and four targets and if Williams keep fumbling, it’s possible it becomes a full 50-50 split instead of 65-35.

     

    Wide Receivers: 


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    October 2, 2025, 12:42 pm