49ers vs. Chiefs Injury Report

Chiefs' Injury Report:

  • Chris Jones and Isiah Pacheco were limited in their first practice session of the week after being listed as non-participants in the estimated injury report on Wednesday.
  • Willie Gay Jr. and L'Jarius Sneed improved, becoming full participants in Thursday's practice after being listed as limited on Wednesday.
  • Kadarius Toney, previously on the injury report, is no longer listed, even for personal reasons.

49ers' Injury Report:

  • Defensive end Arik Armstead missed practice, with head coach Kyle Shanahan not providing details on his status until next week. Armstead's absence has been considered a significant factor in the 49ers' run-defense decline over the final weeks of the season.
  • Tight end George Kittle did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday, with Shanahan stating that it's just a toe issue.
  • The 49ers will practice again on Friday before heading to Las Vegas on Sunday.

Best NFL Player Props for Super Bowl LVIII – Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ersLet’s take a look at the best Super Bowl player-prop bets for the Chiefs-49ers matchup.

Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, who has been the subject of several debates over the past few weeks, kicks off my Super Bowl player-prop bets. Purdy was shaky at the start of both the 49ers’ Divisional Round and NFC Championship Games, but he eventually came through in the clutch to secure wins. There is no doubt that the NFL Draft’s former “Mr. Irrelevant“ is playing excellent football, but he is more than willing to put the ball in harm’s way.

Purdy is a risk-taker. He loves to throw over the middle of the field and is not afraid to give his receivers a chance. He throws with elite anticipation, which is one of his biggest assets but can also be one of his biggest flaws. If a 49ers player gets knocked off his route, or another defender drops back into coverage, Purdy will often still put the ball where it was drawn up to be. That has led to some of his biggest plays, but also some head-scratching interceptions.

Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spaguonolo is known for getting creative with his defensive schemes, and he enjoys plotting disguised coverages. As good as Purdy has been, he is still a young quarterback on a big stage, and I could see Spags getting the better of him once or twice in this one.

The Pick: Brock Purdy to throw an Interception (+105)

Isiah Pacheco

A major reason for the 49ers’ poor starts over their last two games has been the team’s run defense. Running back Aaron Jones of Green Bay, and running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs -- as well as receiver Jameson Williams -- of Detroit were all able to break off runs with ease against San Francisco.

The San Francisco run defense was pretty good during the regular season when it allowed an average of just 97 yards per game. However, that number has jumped up to 142.3 over the past three games. The Niners tightened it up in the second half of the Detroit game, but this is clearly an area of concern for the NFC champions.

Kansas City running back Isiah Pacheco has been brilliant in his second NFL season. The sophomore fell just short of 1,000 rushing yards despite missing three games due to injury. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry in amassing 935 yards and seven touchdowns as a rusher. He also had 244 yards and two more scores as a receiver.

Pacheco figures to be a key player for the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. He is very talented and more than capable of attacking the 49ers’ weakness. Getting him going will take the pressure off quarterback Patrick Mahomes and allow Mahomes to run the offense with a degree of comfort. The Chiefs’ lack of reliable pass-catching options other than Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice means Pacheco should see plenty of work. A line of 66.5 yards seems very low to me, and it’s a great way to boost one’s Super Bowl parlay odds.

The Pick: Isiah Pacheco over 66.5 Rushing Yards (-115)

Travis Kelce

Kansas City wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling has come up with some crucial catches over the Chiefs' last two playoff appearances, but with only five total receptions over his last three games, he is still not the most reliable of options. Removing receivers Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore from the offense has ended up working in the Chiefs’ favor, because it turns out rookie Rashee Rice and veteran tight end Travis Kelce are all they need.

Kelce has returned to elite status after an off year (by his standards), and Rice has clearly distinguished himself as the team’s best wide receiver. This dangerous duo is all that quarterback Patrick Mahomes has needed. Against Baltimore, Kelce and Rice had 11 and eight targets respectively, with no other pass-catcher seeing more than two targets. The K.C. passing attack funnels through these two, and we know Mahomes will be looking to get his future Hall of Fame tight end going on the big Super Bowl stage.

Kelce’s ability to roam around and find open spaces makes him essentially matchup-proof, and his chemistry with the QB means Mahomes somehow always knows where Kelce is going to be. They linked up for a perfect 11 catches on 11 targets for 116 yards and a touchdown in the AFC Championship Game, and a similar performance could be on the way in Super Bowl LVIII.

San Francisco’s Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw are two of the best linebackers in the NFL, but having an elite linebacker corps didn’t help the Ravens last week. This matchup will be one of the key clashes in this Super Bowl, and it should provide high-level entertainment.

The Pick: Travis Kelce over 69.5 Receiving Yards (-125)

Deebo Samuel

While Travis Kelce is the crucial cog in the Kansas City offense, wide receiver Deebo Samuel is the key piece for San Francisco. The 49ers all but admitted that Samuel was the focal point of their game plan in the Divisional Round against Green Bay, which means Samuel’s first-quarter injury in that game was a worst-case scenario and one reason San Francisco looked so bad up until the fourth quarter.

After the Niners endured a horrendous first half against Detroit, Samuel was the man they turned to early in the second half to get their team going. He is one of the toughest players to tackle in the entire NFL and is truly capable of taking any pass to the house. His bruising running style and thick build enable him to shed tacklers with ease and gobble up yards after the catch.

Not only do I think Samuel will be the focus of San Francisco’s Super Bowl passing attack, I also think he has the better matchup. Kansas City cornerback L’Jarius Sneed has been shutting down outside wide receivers all year, which means the Niners’ Brandon Aiyuk could have a tough outing. Getting Samuel going would be the best way to wear down the Kansas City defense. Short passes to Samuel can help ease quarterback Brock Purdy into his first Super Bowl appearance, and we already know that Samuel can turn any screen pass into a huge play. A line of 57.5 receiving yards is way too low for the 49ers’ versatile wide receiver.

The Pick: Deebo Samuel over 57.5 Receiving Yards (-115)

Odds are subject to change*

WELCOME OFFER: Bet $50 Get $200 if your first bet wins. Download Betway Sportsbook today!

Bet on Super Bowl odds

Find season-long NFL betting odds on the Betway. You'll find all the latest spreads, parlays, totals, NFL prop bets, moneylines, and NFL futures. Or call it how you see it with our live NFL betting in-play. All your NFL betting needs are covered at our online sportsbook.

Betway Sports Betting States