Washington Commanders vs. 49ers: Five Players to Track in

Last week was not a good look for the Washington Commanders when they ran out of time in their tie with the New York Giants while in field goal range. Now they face off against the 5-0 49ers in San Fransicso on Monday Night. The 49ers have been through the wringer this season, suffering multiple injuries all around but still finding ways to win. Here are some players to keep an eye on.

RB Christian McCaffrey

Don’t look now, but CMC has been healthy and is back to being one of the league’s most dangerous offensive weapons. Last year, McCaffrey played in all 17 games, posted over 2,000 yards from scrimmage, and scored 17 touchdowns. While he hasn’t touched the ball as often in 2026, with only 61 carries and 15 receptions through five games, that hasn’t changed his impact on the field. McCaffrey is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and has scored five touchdowns in his last four games, all on the ground. Quarterback Brock Purdy has been playing at an MVP level to start the season, and McCaffrey isn’t being counted on to do much right now. However, that can change at any moment, and Washington needs to be aware of where he is all game. With wide receiver Deebo Samuel going down last week due to a hamstring injury, McCaffrey could be called upon in the passing game to take pressure off of Mike Evans and George Kittle. With how dangerous CMC has been with the ball in his hands, Washington can not afford to let him break loose anytime the ball is near him. 

LB Fred Warner

Warner suffered a dislocated and broken ankle in week six of last season and looks as if he hasn’t lost a step. He leads the team in tackles, forced three fumbles, knocked down three passes, with a half sack and 1.5 tackles for loss through five games. He will have a challenge this week, as his partner at linebacker, Dre Greenlaw, was suspended for one game after headbutting Seahawks' Ernest Jones last week. How the 49ers’ defense responds without their second-leading tackler will be a factor going into the game. Warner is one of the top middle linebackers in the game, though, and should still be considered dangerous from anywhere on the field. The Commanders must know where he is at all times.

DE Keion White

Nick Bosa has missed the last three games with a calf injury, and the 49ers needed someone to step up in his place. That someone turned out to be White, who has seven tackles and two sacks in the three games Bosa has missed. He is the only 49er to have multiple sacks this season and is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with four. With Bosa potentially coming back for this Monday night showdown, it could give White more opportunities for one-on-one matchups as he gets more attention from the Commanders’ offensive line. That could lead to a dangerous day for quarterback Jayden Daniels.

WR Mike Evans

When Evans signed with the 49ers, two questions were asked: could he stay healthy, and how much does he have left in the tank? The answers: yes, and a lot more than people thought. Evans leads the team with 24 catches and 326 yards, and has managed to start every game in a receiving corps that has been hampered by injuries. With Deebo Samuel out for at least a few weeks due to a hamstring injury, Evans’ role will be bigger than before. He still is a tough receiver to cover on 50-50 passes thanks to his 6-foot-5 frame and strong hands. He’s also coming off his best game of the season, recording seven catches for 113 yards and a touchdown in the team’s win over the division-rival Seahawks. The Commanders could have some big reinforcements coming back this week in cornerback Trey Amos and safety Nick Cross. Amos started practicing for the first time in 2026 last week, and if everything is good to go, he could be activated for the Monday Night showdown. Cross, meanwhile, has been out since suffering what head coach Dan Quinn described as an illness following their week two matchup with Philadelphia. They will have a big challenge in his first game facing off against Evans.

TE George Kittle

After Kittle tore his Achilles during the playoffs last year, there were questions about when he would be back on the field. As it turned out, Kittle shocked everyone by returning to the field in week one and is right behind Evans in both catches and receiving yards. He found the end zone a combined four times between weeks two and four. Kittle has been one of the top tight ends in the league for a decade, and that will bring a challenge to both the Commanders’ secondary and rookie linebacker Sonny Styles. Styles was recently named the top defensive rookie by NFL.com but now faces off against a tight end who can find a weakness in any defense. Limiting Kittle’s damage will be key for Washington to have a chance at upsetting what could be the best team in the league right now.