Welcome to night two of the 2026 NFL season! The Seahawks leaned on takeaways from their elite defense to hang on for a win in the opener as Sam Darnold exited the game after just six snaps with a hip injury. 

Night two features an NFC West heavyweight matchup, as the San Francisco 49ers take on the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. It is the first regular-season NFL game ever played in Australia, adding an unusual backdrop to an already important divisional game. 

 

 

49ers vs. Rams DFS Picks & Preview: Thursday Night Football, 9/10

Los Angeles enters with enormous expectations after an aggressive offseason. Matthew Stafford is coming off an MVP season, while the Rams added Myles Garrett to an already dangerous defense and brought Aaron Donald back from retirement. Donald won't quite be ready for this one, but Garrett is expected to make his Rams debut. 

San Francisco has plenty of firepower of its own. Brock Purdy returns at quarterback, with Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and new weapon Mike Evans giving Kyle Shanahan plenty of ways to attack the Rams. The key could be Purdy getting the ball out quickly and allowing the 49ers' playmakers to create yards after the catch. 

This is also a fascinating contrast between two very different stages of a quarterback's career. Purdy is entering his fifth season and has established himself as Shanahan's long-term answer. Stafford, at 38, is coming off an MVP campaign and remains one of the league's most accomplished quarterbacks. 

The Rams probably have the advantage if this becomes a pure dropback game. The 49ers' best path is to keep Stafford on the sideline, establish McCaffrey, use quick throws, and make the game uncomfortable for Los Angeles' revamped defense.

 

 

49ers vs. Rams TNF Odds at DraftKings & FanDuel

DraftKings Sportsbook

  • Spread:
    • 49ers +3.5 (-102)
    • Rams -3.5 (-118)
  • Money Line:
    • 49ers (+164)
    • Rams (-198)
  • Game Total:
    • Over 48.5 (-105)
    • Under 48.5 (-115)

FanDuel Sportsbook

  • Spread:
    • 49ers +3.5 (-102)
    • Rams -3.5 (-120)
  • Money Line:
    • 49ers (+176)
    • Rams (-210)
  • Game Total:
    • Over 48.5 (-105)
    • Under 48.5 (-115)
 

 

NFL Weather: 49ers vs. Rams TNF, September 10th

Conditions are expected to be cool and generally favorable for football, with partly cloudy skies. The forecast calls for temperatures around the upper 50s to low 60s °F, with no major weather threat expected during the game. 

49ers vs. Rams Injuries: Thursday Night Football Week 1

For San Francisco, the biggest concern is along the defensive line. Defensive tackle Alfred Collins is out for the season with a torn patellar tendon, while Sam Okuayinonu is also unavailable after suffering a foot injury. Nick Bosa is expected to play despite dealing with a knee issue, while George Kittle is also trending toward playing after working his way back from an Achilles injury. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw has been limited in practice, and cornerback Renardo Green is dealing with a hamstring injury. The 49ers' depleted defensive front could be especially important against a Rams offense led by Matthew Stafford.

Los Angeles also has some significant injury questions heading into the opener. Aaron Donald will not play, which removes one of the biggest defensive threats from the matchup. The Rams will still have Myles Garrett, who is expected to make his Los Angeles debut despite dealing with knee swelling. Cornerback Jaylen Watson is another major question mark after missing practice with a toe injury, while several other Rams players, including Byron Young, Alaric Jackson, and Tyler Higbee, are also being monitored.

 

 

NFL Thursday Night Football DFS Picks: MVP/Captain

Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams - DraftKings: $11,200 | FanDuel: $12,400

Nacua is coming off a monster 2025 season in which he led the NFL with 129 receptions and finished with 1,715 receiving yards, making him one of the safest high-volume receivers in fantasy football. 

His combination of elite target volume, yards after catch ability, and Stafford's willingness to feed him gives him both a high floor and massive ceiling.

Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers - DraftKings: $10,600 | FanDuel: $13,000

McCaffrey has overall RB1 upside in this matchup, and his receiving role gives him an especially strong floor on a full-PPR site like DraftKings. Combine that with his touchdown equity, and it is easy to see why he's one of the most productive players in the league. 

San Francisco's offseason additions at receiver should help by forcing the Rams to respect the perimeter, potentially creating more room for McCaffrey underneath and out of the backfield.

Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams – DraftKings: $9,800 | FanDuel: $11,400

Coming off an MVP season in which he threw for 4,707 yards, 46 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, Stafford enters the opener with an elite supporting cast led by Puka Nacua.

The matchup is also favorable, as San Francisco allowed 232.4 passing yards per game last season, ranking 25th in the NFL, and surrendered 1.7 passing touchdowns per game.

Stafford's combination of a favorable matchup, elite receiving talent, and massive touchdown upside gives him a solid floor with huge upside if the game turns into a shootout.

Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers – DraftKings: $9,400 | FanDuel: $10,600

Purdy has potential because of San Francisco's offensive weapons and his rushing ability, but the Rams' revamped defense does have the ability to limit his upside. 

The Rams have upgraded their pass rush with Myles Garrett, and their defensive strategy will likely be to pressure Purdy while forcing him to make plays downfield. Purdy's tendency to get the ball out and create yards after the catch should help, but Los Angeles will try to force him into longer third downs and limit explosive plays.

 

 

NFL Thursday Night Football DFS Picks: Core Plays

Davante Adams, WR, Los Angeles Rams – DraftKings: $9,200 | FanDuel: $9,000

Adams' biggest fantasy strength remains his red-zone role. He led the NFL with 14 touchdown catches in 2025 and received 31 red-zone targets, giving him a strong chance to score even if Puka Nacua commands more overall targets. The concern is volume, as Adams is now 33 years old and averaged only 56.4 receiving yards per game last season, while Nacua remains the Rams' primary target.

The touchdown upside gives Adams a legitimate path to an optimal score, even if the volume lags. The volume concerns keep him as a primary Flex option rather than a candidate for the top lineup spot. 

Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams – DraftKings: $8,600 | FanDuel: $10,200

San Francisco was mediocre against the run last season, and they are dealing with multiple injuries among their defensive front. Williams should maintain his role as the lead back, even as Blake Corum earned a larger role last season. 

It was nearly a 60/40 split in favor of Williams at the peak of Corum's involvement, and that is roughly where it is expected to remain in 2026. Williams should also remain the Rams' primary option near the goal line. He received 58.6% of Los Angeles' red-zone carries last season and more than half of their carries inside the 10-yard line, giving him legitimate touchdown equity.  

Mike Evans, WR, San Francisco 49ers – DraftKings: $8,200 | FanDuel: $9,400

The 49ers signed Evans to be their primary outside receiver, and with Ricky Pearsall out for the season and several other receivers no longer on the roster, the opportunity for targets is significant.

Evans' size and red-zone ability give him significant touchdown upside, which further adds to his fantasy appeal. If the Niners fall behind or the game shoots out, there could also be a path to significant volume for Evans. 

 

 

NFL Thursday Night Football DFS Picks: Mid-Tier Plays

George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers – DraftKings: $7,400 | FanDuel: $8,200

Kittle is trending toward playing Week 1 after suffering a torn Achilles in January, and he has been practicing at full speed in Melbourne. 

However, the 49ers have not confirmed his workload, and that remains the primary concern. A potential limit on his snap share and/or route participation would obviously impact his upside. 

The Rams also present a difficult matchup for tight ends, as they allowed the eighth-fewest yards to the position last season. 

De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, San Francisco 49ers – DraftKings: $6,600 | FanDuel: $7,200

San Francisco selected Stribling 33rd overall, and the rookie has generated legitimate preseason buzz, catching 11 of 13 targets for 109 yards in his first two preseason appearances. Unfortunately, he probably starts no better than fourth in line for targets behind Evans, McCaffrey, and Kittle, with Deebo Samuel also firmly in the mix. 

Stribling's long-term upside is substantial, but his Week 1 role is in question. That uncertainty should lead to low ownership in DFS contests, and the possibility remains that Kittle is limited and the rookie runs ahead of the aging Samuel. Stribling would have considerable upside in Week 1 if that runout comes to fruition. 

Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams – DraftKings: $4,600 | FanDuel: $7,600

Corum worked his way into more playing time as the season wore on last year, but we are still talking about an RB2 role rather than a true split backfield. The price on FanDuel is quite prohibitive, but he's at a much more reasonable level on DraftKings and is a strong mid-tier option. 

Corum's upside shows up if he vultures a touchdown or breaks off an explosive run or two. Williams missing time or the Rams pulling out to a big lead are additional outcomes that could lead to big production for Corum. 

 

 

NFL Thursday Night Football DFS Picks: Value Plays

Colby Parkinson, TE, Los Angeles Rams – DraftKings: $3,600 | FanDuel: $5,800

Parkinson led Los Angeles tight ends in targets (56), receptions (43), receiving yards (408), and touchdowns (8) last season, but his role is less secure entering 2026 with Tyler Higbee and other tight ends competing for snaps.

With that said, McVay has ignited the league's most recent trend, using 13 personnel (one running back, three tight ends) at a historic rate above 30% during the 2025 season. Parkinson is listed as TE1 on the Rams depth chart, and his size and red-zone role give him legitimate touchdown upside

Terrance Ferguson, TE, Los Angeles Rams – DraftKings: $3,200 | FanDuel: $2,600

Ferguson is listed as TE3 on the Rams' unofficial depth chart, but their hefty usage of 13 personnel still gives him a chance at a decent snap share. The second-year tight end has generated significant offseason buzz and is expected to have a larger role, with reports indicating that he could contribute immediately.

Ferguson was used primarily as a downfield weapon last season, posting an extremely high 18.3-yard average depth of target. If his playing time increases in a meaningful way this season, he might just have a breakout year. 

 

 

WNF DFS Picks: Kickers & D/ST

Los Angeles has the more attractive pass-rush setup with Myles Garrett making his Rams debut, and San Francisco's offensive line has some uncertainty heading into the opener. Garrett led the NFL with 23 sacks last season, giving the Rams legitimate sack upside even with Aaron Donald ruled out.

The 49ers D/ST is more of a contrarian tournament option. San Francisco's defensive line has been hit hard by injuries, with Alfred Collins out for the season and Sam Okuayinonu also unavailable. That makes it harder to trust the 49ers to consistently pressure Matthew Stafford, particularly with the Rams' strong offensive weapons. 

On the kicking side, Harrison Mevis had an excellent 2025 season once he was finally given the job, converting 12 of 13 field-goal attempts and all 39 extra points. He also demonstrated range, making a 52-yarder during the regular season. 

Eddy Pineiro was also excellent in 2025, converting 28 of 29 field-goal attempts overall, and 6 of 7 from 50+ yards. He also made 34 of 38 extra points. 

The Rams have a slightly higher implied team total and the better defense, which has a better chance to stall drives in field-goal territory rather than allow touchdowns. These two factors make Mevis the higher-upside option, but both kickers are firmly in play. 

 

 

49ers vs. Rams DFS Player Pool: TNF, 9/10

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