Niner Noise
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5 49ers players to watch in NFC divisional round vs. Vikings

By Peter Panacy

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 09: Kyle Rudolph #82 of the Minnesota Vikings catches the ball in the end zone for a touchdown over defender Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers in the third 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: Kyle Rudolph #82 of the Minnesota Vikings catches the ball in the end zone for a touchdown over defender Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Deebo Samuel, 49ers
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Wide Receiver Deebo Samuel

The Vikings boast a pretty good secondary, which allowed opponents an average of 5.8 pass yards per attempt during the regular season — good for seventh best.

It’s likely Minnesota will focus its pass-coverage efforts on George Kittle and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders for much of the game, forcing Kyle Shanahan and Jimmy Garoppolo to involve their rookie wideout, Deebo Samuel, much more.

That isn’t exactly a bad thing for San Francisco, either.

Sanders is the X-factor weapon the Saints didn’t enjoy, them being forced to rely on Jared Cook and All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas. They both did damage, yes. But Samuel’s presence puts even more pressure on a Vikings secondary, which could be without one of its best weapons on Saturday, nickel cornerback Mackensie Alexander:

Shanahan won’t hesitate to put Samuel in the slot, meaning whoever the Vikings elect to go with, should Alexander be unavailable, will have the tough task of covering one of San Francisco’s better rookie standouts in recent years.