49ers Review: Christian McCafffrey
Dual-threat running back Christian McCaffrey currently leads the 49ers in rushing yards with 282 but he has done the most damage as a pass-catcher, with 39 receptions (third in the NFL) and 387 receiving yards (sixth in the NFL). He runs with physicality and helps the 49ers with personnel groupings and protections. McCaffrey creates yardage with vision, elusiveness and patience at the line of scrimmage. He can maneuver in tight quarters with choppy feet and staggered movements. McCaffrey has outstanding hands out of the backfield or can be lined up in the slot. He can make defenders miss at all levels and the Bucs will have to be disciplined in run fits on Sunday.
"He is going to get plays but the biggest thing is making sure that he does not get YAC yards so making the tackle and not missing tackles and playing gap-sound football," said Bucs' safety Tykee Smith.
Baker Mayfield for MVP?
Baker Mayfield is playing at an elite level in 2025 with poise under pressure and precision on throws. He is one of two quarterbacks in the NFL with 10-plus passing touchdowns and one-or-fewer interceptions, alongside Lamar Jackson. Against Seattle, Mayfield completed 29-of-33 passes for 379 yards, with no interceptions, earning a 134.7 passer rating. He became the first quarterback ever in the regular season and just the third ever to record 375-plus passing yards and fewer than five incompletions in the same game. Mayfield's ability to extend plays to keep drives alive is rare and his off-platform throws made against Seattle were worthy of a highlight-reel teaching session. He has rallied the Bucs to victory throughout the 2025 season and is playing his best football as a pro.
"I think his play speaks for itself," noted wide receiver Sterling Shepard. "The man plays every play like it is his last and it feeds off to the team and he puts us all in the right position and is just playing great football."
49ers Review: Fred Warner
Future Hall of Fame linebacker Fred Warner leads the 49ers in tackles with 50 (third in the NFL) and is one of the best coverage linebackers in the game over the middle of the field in both man and zone. He had eight run stuffs (loss or no gain) in the 49ers' first four games and pairs incredible instincts with sensational sideline-to-sideline range. Warner moves with intent and sets the blueprint at the position in the NFL. He knows how to use leverage and is quick to diagnose, responding to the quarterback's eyes in space. Opposing teams feel his presence on the field and gameplan specifically for where Warner is lined up, attempting to trick the second-level defender.
"When you play linebackers of that caliber, their recognition on plays, it is so quick and you have to be able to manipulate them with your eyes and you look at the Rams/Niners game, it was a chess match with [Matthew] Stafford and Warner with him trying to move him out of the spots," described Mayfield. "You have to know where he is at all times. He can do everything: He runs to the ball, sets the tone for the defense and he has been doing that for years. We got to know where 54 is and not let him ruin the game for us."
