Predicting the 2016 San Francisco 49ers Week 17 Starting Lineup
By Peter Panacy
Defensive Line
San Francisco might be without the services of standout defensive tackle Ian Williams (ankle) for Week 1, as reported on by Niner Noise’s Doug Totten earlier.
For now, this is just a one-game setback. And Williams, whom PFF graded as the team’s best defender — a plus-24.4 overall mark — will figure to be a focal point on the defensive line under coordinator Jim O’Neil.
As long as he’s healthy, Williams stays put. And second-year pro Arik Armstead will probably assume starter’s duties too.
The tossup is between up-and-coming defensive tackle Quinton Dial, who has the flexibility to play at either end as well as the nose, and rookie first-round pick DeForest Buckner.
Buckner probably doesn’t start right away, especially if Williams comes back sooner than anticipated. But the rookie DE will be able to assert his prowess pretty quickly, as long as he lives up to his draft hype.
Nothing against Dial, but he probably gets pushed out of the starting lineup by the end of the season.
It doesn’t matter too much though. The 49ers will be regularly rotating players in anyway, and especially on sub packages.
Week 17 Starters: Ian Williams (NT), Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner (DE)
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