49ers vs. Falcons: 4 Atlanta players who could spoil Niners’ Week 6

The 49ers are clear favorites for their Week 6 road matchup against the Falcons, yet these four Atlanta players likely have other plans for Week 6.

Heading into the 2022 season, it wasn’t hard to see the Atlanta Falcons being viewed as boasting the worst roster overall in the NFC, perhaps even the worst in the NFL.

Quarterback Marcus Mariota is a stopgap option, while Atlanta primarily boasts a number of B- and C-list players occupying premier positions on both sides of the ball. And while there are a handful of exceptions, pound for pound, the Falcons can’t come close to comparing to their Week 6 opponent, the San Francisco 49ers.

The Niners seem to have found their offensive footing, finally, after a Week 5 drubbing of the Carolina Panthers, and their defense is No. 1 in the NFL in nearly every major category.

Seems like a total mismatch, right?

Not so fast. Falcons head coach Arthur Smith might have his team overachieving a bit, currently boasting the 10th best scoring offense in the league despite a lack of playmaking talent. But the fact Atlanta is overachieving in many regards poses a threat to San Francisco.

Especially if these four Falcons players end up making a massive impact on Sunday.

Falcons player No. 4 who could ruin 49ers day: TE Kyle Pitts

Atlanta was without its star tight end in Week 5, Kyle Pitts, as he was dealing with a hamstring injury. But all signs are pointing to him playing against the 49ers for the second time in his career.

Pitts did damage the last time these two teams met, accruing 77 yards on four receptions but being kept out of the end zone.

Now, Pitts is looking to climb the ranks into being one of the top tight ends in the NFL. And while his 150 yards on 10 receptions isn’t quite indicative of that happening right away, the potential is certainly there for a big game to take place.

Perhaps against the Niners.

Again, San Francisco’s pass defense is elite, yet a shorthanded secondary that’s without defensive backs such as Jimmie Ward and Emmanuel Moseley because of injury could open up what Pitts needs to go off and take over the game.