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49ers vs. Seahawks: 5 San Francisco players to watch in Week 13

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 26: Joe Staley #74 of the San Francisco 49ers leaves the field after receiving medical attention during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 26: Joe Staley #74 of the San Francisco 49ers leaves the field after receiving medical attention during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Matt Breida #22 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes against linebacker K.J. Wright #50 of the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Matt Breida #22 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes against linebacker K.J. Wright #50 of the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

The San Francisco 49ers don’t stand much of a chance to beat the Seahawks in Seattle this Sunday. But here are five Niners you’ll want to watch anyway.

If you’re looking for ways the San Francisco 49ers can pull off an upset on the road against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13, this isn’t the place.

According to Odds Shark, the 2-9 Niners are 10-point underdogs against the 6-5 Seahawks, who are still desperately in the playoff hunt this late into the season. And San Francisco hasn’t won at CenturyLink Field since when, 2011?

Overall, the 49ers haven’t beaten the Seahawks since a home contest at Candlestick Park way back in 2013.

That doesn’t mean this game is without storylines, however. While any Seahawks-49ers showdown used to be must-watch television for any NFL fan, the die-hard followers of these two NFC West foes will still have interest.

And those pulling for the red and gold will probably want to watch these five players when they prepare to square off against Seattle on Sunday.

No. 5: Running Back Matt Breida

If head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. want to stand a chance to stay in the game, they’ll have to rely heavily on running back Matt Breida, who enters the contest hobbled by an ankle injury.

Breida has been banged up for most of the season yet has enjoyed some moderate health the past few weeks. He has rushed for 100-plus yards in each of the Niners’ last two games, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him put up some big numbers again in Seattle.

The Seahawks enter the contest allowing an average of 5.3 yards per carry, which ranks worst in the NFL. A week ago versus the Carolina Panthers, Seattle gave up a whopping 220 rush yards — 125 of which came from running back Christian McCaffrey.

Despite the Seahawks’ 30-27 win, stopping the run still haven’t been a big strength for this defense, which no longer possesses quite the thump as it did during the 49ers and Hawks’ heydays.

Breida’s 5.8 rush-yards-per-carry average is currently tied for second best in the league this deep into the season.

Impressive.