San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the 5 toughest players the Niners face in 2018
By Bobby Horne
Running Back David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals
Johnson is in the conversation for the best running back in the NFL. I personally think he sits at No. 2 behind Pittsburgh Steelers runner Le’Veon Bell, but that argument is for another time.
It’s safe to say Johnson is elite.
Not for just what he does in the run game, but for what he can do in the Arizona Cardinals’ pass game.
Johnson is a serious threat as a receiver, and can do it as well as most wide receivers in the NFL. He is an absolute mismatch, and this aspect of his game is where I think it challenges the 49ers the most.
He will be up against the likes of linebackers Reuben Foster, Malcolm Smith and rookie Fred Warner. While I have faith in what the Niners linebackers are capable of, Johnson will be handful no matter what.
It will be up to defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to put his defense in a position to where they can get the safeties in coverage to help.
Either way, Johnson poses a challenge for the 49ers and he will certainly be tough to contain.