Four 49ers players to watch in Week 10 Monday night matchup vs. Giants

The decision was easy for coach Kyle Shanahan after the 49ers’ 34-3 victory over the Raiders in Week 9.

The 49ers are sticking with the same formula Monday night against the New York Giants. And that includes at quarterback, where C.J. Beathard will remain on the sideline when Nick Mullens and the 49ers' first-team offense takes the field.

“Everyone saw the way he played,” Shanahan said of Mullens. “I don’t think it was too tough of a decision. Our team played really well and he played well, so it was going to be hard not to give him that opportunity.”

Here are four 49ers to watch Monday night, beginning with the team’s starting quarterback:

QB Nick Mullens

Mullens is not guaranteed to start beyond this game, Shanahan said. Mullens earned the start after completing 16 of 22 pass attempts for 262 yards with three touchdowns against the Raiders.

The task gets a little more difficult this week, as the Giants spent the better part of two weeks game-planning specifically for Mullens. The Raiders did not put much pressure on Mullens, and receivers were running wide open in the secondary. The Giants will generate more of a pass rush, including on blitzes.

Mullens, who originally signed last year as an undrafted rookie from Southern Miss, showed great poise and confidence in his first start. He ran the offense as it was intended. Mullens knows Shanahan’s system very well, so the playbook does not have to be altered or shortened in any way to assist him.

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CB Ahkello Witherspoon

After getting off to a slow start and losing his starting job, Witherspoon has been playing much better in recent weeks.

He will certainly get tested against Odell Beckham Jr., one of the top wide receivers in the game. Beckham leads the Giants with 61 receptions for 785 yards and two touchdowns. Veteran QB Eli Manning has been up and down, but Beckham provides a steady, big-play threat who loves the attention in prime time.

Entering Week 11, Witherspoon surrendered 29 receptions (on 45 targets) for 328 yards and five touchdowns, according to Pro Football Focus. Witherspoon is likely to see a lot of action come his way, as Richard Sherman has given up just nine catches on 20 targets for 143 yards this season.

RB Matt Breida

The long break figures to be a huge advantage for Breida, who has nursed knee, shoulder and ankle injuries since training camp. He has yet to miss a game despite being listed as “questionable” for five games this season.

The 49ers have featured a consistent running game this season behind strong play from the team’s offensive line. Breida has been a revelation for the team after Jerick McKinnon sustained a season-ending knee injury a week before the start of the regular season. Breida has 531 yards rushing on 96 attempts for a 5.5-yard average.

With Mullens making his second start, the 49ers will want to get the running game going with the combination of Breida and veteran Alfred Morris.

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LB Fred Warner

The Giants will feature a steady diet of rookie running back Saquon Barkley as a runner and receiver, so that means rookie middle linebacker Fred Warner will be rested repeatedly.

Warner has started every game for the 49ers this season. He leads the 49ers with 72 tackles – more than twice as many as each of Jaquiski Tartt and Arik Armstead, who are tied for second with 31 tackles apiece.

Barkley leads the Giants with 519 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 111 carries for a 4.7 –yard average. He also has 58 receptions for 497 yards and two touchdowns.

Warner has been a steady performer for the 49ers, and he will face no bigger challenge than tracking down and tackling Barkley.

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