The San Francisco 49ers will be without Mike Evans for the first time this season. According to warm-ups, Brandin Cooks and Jordan Watkins will start on the outside. Christian Kirk likely plays the slot, with Jacob Cowing sprinkled in there.
When these teams met a season ago, Christian McCaffrey ran for 129 yards with Mac Jones as the starter. He also had seven receptions for 72 yards. In that game, George Kittle was held without a target. It’s national tight end week, so we think Kittle might be peppered with a target or five on Sunday.
The wideouts who were targeted last year were Jauan Jennings — who had 31 yards on seven targets — Skyy Moore, and Kendrick Bourne. The 49ers only scored 20 points in that game, but it gives you an idea of how this offense can function, even without its starting quarterback, against the defense they’ll face today. Something tells me the 49ers will look like the 49ers once the game is decided.
Can they contain Atlanta? Probably. This game could be high-scoring, as most 49ers games are.