Look for Rod Streater to step up and play a bigger role at receiver for the 49ers. Torrey Smith, the 49ers’ deep threat at wideout, has been dealing with a back injury in recent weeks and clearly was not at full strength in San Francisco’s 23-20 loss to the Cardinals in Arizona. Streater is the 49ers’ only other receiver with similar down-field skills but has had a quiet season with four catches for 59 yards. The 49ers might need more contributions from unexpected wideouts to beat a championship contender such as the Patriots, and Streater fits that description.
After missing two games with a shoulder injury, running back Carlos Hyde’s most significant play against the Cardinals was his block on Colin Kaepernick’s 4-yard touchdown run.