SF 49ers: 3 players who’ll be key in defeating Saints in Week 10
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: SF 49ers Linebacker Fred Warner
When one thinks of the Saints, it’s not hard to envision Drew Brees targeting one of his well-known pass-catching targets. And this year, Emmanuel Sanders and fellow wideout Michael Thomas are the two names to watch.
Yet the leading yards-getter for New Orleans this season is running back Alvin Kamara, whose 1,036 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns is leading the rest of the Saints offense by a long shot.
For what it’s worth, those 1,036 are most by any playmaker in the league this season, too.
It’s safe to say Kamara is New Orleans’ top offensive weapon, meaning it would be wise to assign him to San Francisco’s top defender, linebacker Fred Warner.
Warner has been excellent in pass coverage this season, earning an elite-level 90.3 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus, while his 84.2 overall grade is right up there with the league’s best linebackers. Despite the SF 49ers’ ugly loss to the Packers a week ago, Warner was still all over the field and making plays even when the game’s outcome was clear.
That kind of effort will be needed from Warner against Kamara. And maybe, just maybe, a top-tier performance from the third-year linebacker will negate the running back’s overall performance this Sunday.