The San Francisco 49ers are coming off their bye week with some added reinforcements, as they look to start the second half of the season on the right track against the Las Vegas Raiders this weekend.
The Niners are 9.5-point favorites on FanDuel Sportsbook, with the game total set at 51.5.
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While the 49ers will not have wide receivers Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel,
or Christian Kirk, Demarcus Robinson is trending toward playing, while cornerbacks Upton Stout and Nate Hobbs are looking in that direction as well.
Additionally, San Francisco will have Nick Bosa back, so he and DeForest Buckner should be on the field on Sunday as the 49ers debut their new-look defensive line.
Heading into the weekend, the 49ers are massive 10-point favorites over the Raiders after opening as 8.5-point favorites, with the total skyrocketing to 51.5 points.
While the 49ers are tied for the league’s best record at 6-1, the Raiders have been on a bit of a slide after their hot 3-0 start. They suffered four straight losses to the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, and Los Angeles Rams before their come-from-behind win over the New York Jets last weekend.
So, let’s look at our three predictions for Sunday’s game, which is set to kick off at 1:25 p.m. on FOX.
Demarcus Robinson returns with a big play
The 49ers have missed that vertical field-stretcher since Demarcus Robinson went out weeks ago. Initially, that was set to be De’Zhaun Stribling, but he suffered the ankle injury back in Week 1. So, that went to Demarcus Robinson, who played in just a game and a half before suffering a high ankle sprain.
Robinson has been out since Week 2, but he was involved in both of the games he played to start the year. He had the long 39-yard touchdown against the Rams in Week 1, finishing with two catches for 50 yards.
Then, in Week 2 against the Miami Dolphins, he had three catches for 34 yards, with the longest going for 19.
The 49ers wide receiver core is still beaten up, and the group has struggled with separation at times. That’s where Robinson comes in, and it feels like Kyle Shanahan will look his way for a couple of vertical plays. I think one hits on Sunday.
Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner return with a sack
Kirk Cousins has taken 11 sacks this season, as Klint Kubiak and the Raiders have done a great job getting the ball out of his hands. Cousins has averaged a 2.70-second time to throw, and he’s been even quicker against the blitz.
All 11 of his sacks have come when teams have rushed four or fewer, and I think the 49ers will find their way to at least one courtesy of returners Nick Bosa and DeForest Buckner this weekend.
Las Vegas’s run game has not been great. That should leave the Raiders in some tough late-down situations, and the 49ers suddenly have a pretty impressive veteran pass-rushing group with Bosa, Buckner, and Osa Odighizuwa.
Now, others might get home for even more sacks, but I think the stars are aligning for Bosa or Buckner to get to the quarterback at least once on Sunday.
Fred Warner has the battle to watch
One way the Raiders’ passing game has been thriving this season is by throwing to Ashton Jeanty, one of the most targeted running backs in the NFL this season.
Now, Jeanty may have gotten a soft benching last week, as his snap share dipped significantly in favor of rookie Mike Washington, but he’s still a very talented pass catcher, and that leaves Fred Warner with the top assignment this weekend.
Not only will Warner likely carry star Brock Bowers for a few routes, but he’ll also work in coverage against the running backs, the two spots Las Vegas has looked to target.
Jeanty is second on the Raiders with 37 receptions for 376 yards and three touchdowns. The 49ers will have to mitigate that on Sunday.
