4 players the 49ers need to step up in NFC West bout vs. Rams

The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a tough trip to Minnesota, as they repeatedly shot themselves in the foot en route to a 23-17 loss to the Vikings on Sunday.

But all that's behind them now as they look to rebound this weekend against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, a place that's been kind to them since its opening back in 2020.

Both teams come into the matchup feeling the aches of early season injuries, with the Niners missing running back Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) and wide receiver Deebo Samuel (calf) for at least the next several weeks.

But the Rams are even more plagued by the injury bug, with key players like wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp out for the foreseeable future along with offensive tackle Joe Noteboom, safety John Johnson III, and offensive guard Jonah Jackson.

In what could be a bit of a battle of attrition between the two long-time rivals, the 49ers certainly still have enough firepower on both sides of the ball to win on Sunday and maintain their status among the NFL's elite teams.

With that in mind, let's look at some players who need to help fill the voids left by McCaffrey and Samuel, or who need to up their game starting on Sunday in Los Angeles.