SF 49ers: 3 players who’ll be key in defeating Saints in Week 10

With the SF 49ers visiting the Saints in Week 10, let’s explore three players who’ll be crucial for a Niners upset.

Last year, the SF 49ers had to endure a back-and-forth thriller on the road against the New Orleans Saints, followed by a miraculous fourth-down catch-and-run grab by tight end George Kittle to set up the Niners’ last-second win at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in Week 14.

A year later, so much has changed.

Kittle won’t be there, of course, sidelined indefinitely with a foot fracture. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who dueled with Saints quarterback Drew Brees, is also out with a high-ankle sprain. Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders has switched sides, going from San Francisco to New Orleans. So, at least he’ll be there. Just in a different uniform, as well as linebacker Kwon Alexander.

After nine weeks of regular-season action the 4-5 Niners and 6-2 Saints appear on opposite trajectories. The latter is poised for a deep playoff run, while the SF 49ers are desperately trying to salvage the season amid a disastrous swarm of injuries.

So, instead of Garoppolo, it’ll be No. 2 quarterback Nick Mullens. It’ll also be No. 2 tight end Ross Dwelley over George Kittle, while the top wide receiver option for the Niners is the rookie, Brandon Aiyuk.

No wonder The Action Network pegs the Saints as 9.5-point favorites, especially in the wake of their blowout Week 9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco’s back-to-back ugly losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers.

But if the SF 49ers somehow pull off the upset on the road, these three players will have to play key roles.