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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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Ahkello Witherspoon, 49ers
Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon

The Seahawks exploited one of the 49ers’ top question marks in the second half of Week 17, regularly going after No. 2 cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon.

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This was done to the point of Witherspoon being benched for depth corner Emmanuel Moseley. And while there’s no announcement who will start in the divisional round, it’s a pretty safe assumption quarterback Kirk Cousins and the Vikings will attempt the same approach: go after that side of the field, avoiding Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman in the process.

Minnesota has not one, but two wide receivers capable of doing serious damage on Saturday, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. Judging by the Wild Card round, the Vikings will look to feed Thielen a lot, meaning he’ll probably line up opposite Witherspoon, should he get the start.

That’s still a play Kyle Shanahan has to make, of course. But a guess would be Witherspoon starts in the divisional round, yet winds up being on a very short leash, especially if a player like Thielen or Diggs winds up picking up chunk yards over the course of the game.

Witherspoon needs a bounce-back game in a bad way, so this could be the perfect opportunity.

Next. 3 reasons why Vikings aren't a good playoff matchup for 49ers. dark

The 49ers and Vikings kick off on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 4:35 p.m. ET from Levi’s Stadium.