49ers vs. Colts: 5 matchups that’ll determine who wins Week 7
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: 49ers RB Elijah Mitchell vs. Colts LB Darius Leonard
If you’re one to pay close attention to linebacker play, Week 7 should be a contest to enjoy, as it’ll feature two of the NFL’s premier linebackers, the 49ers’ Fred Warner and the Colts’ Darius Leonard.
With the weather looking to play a key role in Sunday’s game, one might expect both teams to rely much more heavily on their respective rushing attacks, meaning both Warner and Leonard will have their hands full.
From the Niners’ offensive perspective, this will likely mean heavy doses of rookie running back Elijah Mitchell, who returned from a shoulder injury and managed to average 4.8 yards per carry despite only getting nine rush attempts during San Francisco’s Week 5 loss to the Arizona Cardinals two weeks ago.
Indianapolis, however, has performed well against the run this season, giving up just 4.1 yards per attempt, 11th best in the league, and Leonard has been a major reason why.
Pro Football Focus has given Leonard an elite-level 90.2 run-blocking grade in 2021, after all.
Mitchell’s speed could be a factor here, although that again could be something hindered by the wet conditions. Just as much as tackling could be affected, too. Nevertheless, this will be a bout that could ultimately determine how effective the 49ers offense is in Week 7.