The Thursday Night Football showdown between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers brings plenty of intrigue for fantasy managers in Week 4. Both teams are on similar paths as they are both 3-1 and are looking for a statement division win. There are some major injuries, including Brock Purdy, Jauan Jennings, George Kittle, and Ricky Pearsall, who may make the decisions difficult tomorrow. Below, I’ll explain who you can trust in your lineups, who should stay on the bench, and which players fall into that tricky gray area for Thursday night.
Lock Them into Your Lineup
- Puka Nacua WR (LAR)
- Christian McCaffrey RB (SF)
- Davante Adams WR (LAR)
Strong Starts
Kyren Williams RB (LAR)
Kyren Williams remains a strong fantasy football start this week despite a somewhat underwhelming start to his 2025 campaign. While he ranks just 20th among running backs with 13.4 PPG, Williams’ workload keeps him in must-start territory. He has logged 68 carries for 303 rushing yards (75.8 YPG, 4.5 YPC) plus 8 receptions for 52 yards, never falling below 66 yards rushing in a single game this season. His fantasy scoring has been capped by only two touchdowns, but he still ranks top-15 in red zone touches and is clearly the Rams’ featured back. Facing a 49ers defense that has allowed 115.5 rushing yards per game (17th in the NFL) and recently gave up 124 yards to Travis Etienne, Williams is well-positioned for RB1-level usage on Thursday night.
Williams’ history against San Francisco also points toward start-worthy production. Across three prior meetings, he has compiled 249 rushing yards, 3 TDs, and 79 receiving yards on 10 catches, showing he can produce even in tough matchups. In 2024 alone, he put up 197 yards and 2 TDs in two games against this defense. Advanced usage metrics, 7th in snap share, 9th in red-zone opportunities, and 18+ touches projected again this week. Suggest a stable workload. Sportsbooks have Williams favored to score with anytime TD odds at -185, while fantasy projections place him around 15 points. Even if San Francisco limits receiving production from RBs, Williams’ rushing volume makes him one of the safest starts in fantasy football for Week 5.
Players to Sit
Matthew Stafford QB (LAR)
Matthew Stafford is better left on fantasy football benches this week in a brutal divisional matchup. Through four weeks, the veteran QB has been strong statistically with 1,114 passing yards, 8 TDs, and just 2 INTs, highlighted by a 375-yard, 3-TD performance against Indianapolis. However, the 49ers have allowed only 13.2 fantasy PPG to quarterbacks (29th), giving up just five passing TDs all season while holding every opposing QB under 300 yards. Stafford has struggled historically in this rivalry, averaging just 257 yards per game with three total TDs across his last four meetings against San Francisco. Even with Nick Bosa out, the 49ers’ pass defense still ranks 6th overall and limits explosive plays.
Projections peg Stafford closer to 245 yards and 1 TD this week, which would barely place him inside the top-16 fantasy QBs. In fact, he has averaged only 12 PPG in eight matchups vs. the 49ers since joining Los Angeles. San Francisco’s stingy coverage unit has yet to allow more than one passing touchdown in a game, and Stafford’s supporting cast could struggle if the Rams fall behind early. With L.A. more likely to lean on Kyren Williams against a beatable run defense, Stafford’s volume ceiling is capped. Fantasy football managers should sit him this week in favor of more favorable matchups.
Mac Jones QB (SF)
Mac Jones is not a recommended start in fantasy football this week. Jones has filled in admirably with 563 yards and 4 TDs in his last two appearances, but this is a rough spot against a Rams defense allowing just 212.8 pass YPG (9th fewest). He also faces one of the NFL’s most disruptive pass rushes, ranking 5th in pressure rate at 45.6%, and Jones has struggled badly under pressure with a -7.8% CPOE. Injuries further limit his outlook, as George Kittle is out, Ricky Pearsall is dealing with a knee injury, and Jauan Jennings hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Without reliable weapons, his ceiling is capped at low-end QB2 levels.
Jones’ efficiency profile makes matters worse for fantasy. He ranks 25th in time to throw and 21st in yards per attempt (7.0), which does not pair well with the Rams’ fast front. Projections call for 220 yards and one TD (13.8 fantasy points), a far cry from a usable starting QB in standard leagues. While his chemistry with Christian McCaffrey provides a short-area safety valve, San Francisco is likely to lean on the ground game to protect Jones. Given the injuries around him and the matchup, Jones is a clear sit outside of two-QB or superflex formats.
Kendrick Bourne WR (SF)
Kendrick Bourne may be elevated into the WR1 role for San Francisco, but fantasy football managers should still sit him this week. Bourne has just 8 catches for 87 yards on 13 targets through four games, with no scores and no game above four receptions. Despite ranking second on the team in routes run and snaps, he sits outside the top-70 in key metrics such as yards per route run (74th), QB rating when targeted (56th), and air yards share (85th). Injuries to Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings leave Bourne as the “next man up,” but volume alone doesn’t equal production in this passing attack. The Rams’ defense has allowed the ninth-fewest passing yards per game, further limiting his potential.
San Francisco’s depleted receiving corps is a storyline, but Bourne is unlikely to take advantage. He’s never been a downfield threat, his longest catch this year is just 17 yards, and the 49ers figure to lean on Christian McCaffrey heavily in both the run and pass game. With Mac Jones struggling under pressure, expect mostly short-area checkdowns rather than explosive plays. Bourne could see 6–8 targets, but his track record suggests a low ceiling and a very shaky floor. Sit him in all but the deepest PPR leagues.
Colby Parkinson TE (LAR)
Colby Parkinson is a fantasy football sit despite Tyler Higbee being sidelined. Across four games, Parkinson has just 4 catches for 11 yards and no touchdowns, producing next to nothing even when on the field. His snap count has risen (55% in Week 4), but he’s splitting reps with Davis Allen and hasn’t emerged as a viable target in Sean McVay’s offense. Matthew Stafford continues to funnel passes toward Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, with Kyren Williams handling red zone work. Even against a 49ers defense ranked middle of the pack vs. tight ends, Parkinson offers little to no upside.
Historically, Parkinson hasn’t shown much either; just 8 catches for 79 yards and one TD in 10 career games against San Francisco. Fantasy projections have him at under one reception and fewer than 10 yards (2.4 points), ranking outside the top 50 at the position. With such a minimal role and no proven chemistry with Stafford in 2025, Parkinson is a clear sit across all formats. Even in TE-premium leagues, his floor is dangerously close to zero.
Blake Corum RB (LAR)
Blake Corum has shown flashes as a rookie, but he remains an easy fantasy football sit this week. His role behind Kyren Williams leaves little room for production, as he’s averaging just under six carries per game. Corum has 120 rushing yards on 23 carries (5.2 YPC) and one TD, but his Week 4 usage (9 carries for 21 yards) highlighted his capped role. He’s also been a non-factor in the passing game, recording just 3 catches for 9 yards across four games. Unless Williams suffers an injury, Corum is locked into backup duties.
The 49ers are a neutral run matchup (115.5 YPG allowed), but even a soft spot doesn’t help Corum’s case without guaranteed touches. Williams commands over 70% of the Rams’ snaps and nearly all of the red zone work, keeping Corum sidelined for fantasy purposes. His projections hover around 5 points, making him nearly unplayable outside of extremely deep formats. Sit Corum this week and avoid banking on garbage-time usage in such an important divisional matchup.
On the Fence
Jake Tonges TE (SF)
Jake Tonges has flashed some sneaky upside, but he remains a borderline play in fantasy football. With George Kittle out, Tonges has stepped into a larger role, posting 12 catches for 125 yards and 2 TDs across four games. He’s scored in two of those contests, showing red-zone chemistry with both Brock Purdy and Mac Jones. His advanced metrics are solid, ranking 13th in yards per target and 4th in target separation, while playing over 68% of snaps in recent weeks. The Rams allow 10.4 fantasy PPG to tight ends, making this a middle-of-the-road matchup.
The downside is that Tonges’ production has been streaky, disappearing in Weeks 2 and 3 before his Week 4 resurgence. With Jones under center and multiple WR injuries, Tonges could see an increased workload, but it’s far from guaranteed. Projections place him around 7 points, which makes him a fringe TE2 play in deeper leagues. Fantasy managers desperate for a replacement could start him, but safer options exist. If you have alternatives, it’s best to sit Tonges until his role stabilizes.
Demarcus Robinson WR (SF)
Demarcus Robinson is another borderline option, but he’s better suited as a deep bench stash than a start. Returning from suspension in Week 4, he recorded just 1 catch for 20 yards on 2 targets while ranking 4th among 49ers receivers in snaps and routes run. Last season with the Rams, Robinson averaged 16.3 yards per catch, proving he can be a vertical threat, and his 2025 debut included a 15.5-yard aDOT. With Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings sidelined, Robinson could see expanded opportunities to stretch the field. However, Mac Jones’ struggles under pressure limit the likelihood of consistent deep shots connecting.
Fantasy projections place Robinson in the 5–10 point range if he sees 4+ targets, but his usage floor is frighteningly low. The Rams’ secondary has been stingy, and San Francisco is expected to run heavily through Christian McCaffrey. Robinson is a risky dart throw who may break off a long catch, but he’s equally likely to post a near-zero outing. Unless you’re in a very deep league or desperate for WR help, Robinson is best left on the bench.
