The 49ers are locked into the No. 1 seed while the Los Angeles Rams will either be the No. 6 or 7 seed depending on the outcome of the 49ers game and that of the Green Bay Packers- Chicago Bears game.
With the 49ers resting starters on Sunday, what backup or role players do you see getting heavier workloads? - Daniel C. Here's my Top 5: 1. QB Sam Darnold. This would allow the team to A.) Protect Brock Purdy B.) Sharpen Darnold in case there's a 2022 playoffs-like injury at quarterback and C.) Give Darnold an opportunity to show his stuff ahead of 2024 free agency. It's a rare win-win-win. Heck, the team might even consider playing Brandon Allen. (See: item B). 2. LT Jaylon Moore. After 13 seasons, Trent Williams' right ankle - the one exposed to the line-of-scrimmage scrum - is a ticking time bomb. All it takes is one teammate or opponent falling/stepping on it to sideline him for several weeks. (See: Week 6 in Cleveland). Assuming Moore is out of the concussion protocol, he ought to play most, if not all, of the left tackle snaps on Sunday. 3. RB Jordan Mason. Christian McCaffrey (calf) already is out for the game. And we all know Elijah Mitchell's injury history. Which points to Mason - and perhaps fellow 2022 rookie Tyrion Davis-Price - getting a heavy workload against the Rams. The 49ers would have to elevate Davis-Price from the practice squad for the game 4. DT Sebastian Joseph-Day. A meaningless Week 18 contest is the ideal setting for newcomer Joseph-Day to familiarize himself with the 49ers' defensive style. A heavy dose of Joseph-Day also ought to lighten Javon Hargave's workload. 5. CB Darrell Luter Jr. Amb