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49ers vs. Chargers: Top 5 San Francisco players to watch in Week 4

By Aaron Tan

SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 31: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after the 49ers scored a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers at Levi's Stadium on August 31, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 31: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after the 49ers scored a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers at Levi's Stadium on August 31, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 09: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings is sacked with the ball by DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 09: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings is sacked with the ball by DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Defensive End DeForest Buckner

DeForest Buckner is one of the best defensive linemen in all of football — there is simply no denying that.

However, he was invisible in Week 3 against Kansas City, most noticeably during running back Kareem Hunt’s two touchdown runs, where Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes simply handed the ball off to the tailback, who headed straight toward the middle of the line and strolled in with ease.

Buckner finished the day with just three combined tackles — not the gaudy statline that he is used to having.

Now the question is — will Buckner bounce back? He has a tough matchup this week against the Chargers’ stout offensive line that has only allowed five sacks through the first three games of the season.

The key to stopping Los Angeles’ quarterback Philip Rivers is by pressuring him, and Buckner will have to do that regularly on Sunday if the 49ers want to have any shot to win the game.