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Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers: Players to watch

By Sayre Bedinger

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: The Los Angeles Rams prepare to take the field for a game against the Washington Redskins at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: The Los Angeles Rams prepare to take the field for a game against the Washington Redskins at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks runs downfield against defensive lineman Arik Armstead of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of the game at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers 12-9. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks runs downfield against defensive lineman Arik Armstead of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of the game at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers 12-9. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

Arik Armstead, DL, 49ers

The former first round pick out of Oregon needs to show better consistency, but things are starting to click for him a little bit as a pass rusher and he’s also making some stops in the running game.

DeForest Buckner is stealing the show right now, leading the 49ers in defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, but advanced metrics show that Armstead is finding ways to take advantage of the matchups he’s getting, and he is making some plays as a pass rusher:

This was his first sack of the young season, albeit against a terrible offensive line, but he still took advantage here and made the play.

Through two games so far, Armstead has seven total pressures on the quarterback, and four stops in the running game. He and DeForest Buckner are going to be key if the 49ers are going to have any chance of getting pressure up front, and making Jared Goff uncomfortable.

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