Two of the game's best running backs clash on Monday Night Football when Jonathan Taylor's Indianapolis Colts host Christian McCaffrey's San Francisco 49ers.
The pregame narrative: Indianapolis' playoff hopes would be virtually non-existent with a loss, and hinge on 44-year-old Philip Rivers, who is making his second start since coming out of retirement. San Francisco is on a four-game winning streak and is a sizeable road favourite.
Check out my 49ers vs. Colts predictions, featuring a prop on both RBs in this +295 SGP.
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49ers vs. Colts predictions
SGP: 49ers -6.5 | McCaffrey anytime TD | Taylor over 2.5 receptions (+290)
49ers -6.5 (+102): Rivers and the Colts nearly toppled the NFC-best Seattle Seahawks on the road last week, so you would think they have a puncher's chance of beating the Niners at home.
But I don't. Rivers was extremely immobile and struggled to put any power or speed behind his throws. It's sort of what you would expect from a man who was out of the league for five years.
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The Niners have averaged 31.0 PPG during their four-game winning streak and should be able to put up a boatload of points against the Colts' defence.
Indianapolis is missing several big names on that side of the ball, especially in the secondary, with Sauce Gardner headlining the inactives.
I just can't picture Rivers keeping pace with San Francisco.
Monday Night Football SGP picks
McCaffrey anytime TD (-210): McCaffrey is still as reliable as they come for finding the end zone.
- He's scored 14 times this year
- That includes five of his last six games, where he has eight total TDs.
- Since joining the 49ers, CMC has 53 touchdowns in 51 regular-season and playoff games.
Kyle Shanahan isn't shy to give his bell cow looks, as McCaffrey touches the ball 24.6 times per game.
With that type of volume, and Purdy's ability to move the ball down the field, he's always in a good spot to find pay dirt.
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Taylor over 2.5 receptions (-175): Shane Steichen, much like Shanahan, will want to feed his star RB however possible.
Taylor will obviously get a ton of touches as a rusher, but should be active as a pass-catching back on Monday.
Rivers didn't have much time to throw last week, and he isn't going to scramble. That means check-downs will become available, and many should be directed to JT.
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Taylor caught three of his four targets last week and has generally been reliable against this number.
He has two-plus catches in 13 of 14 games, going over this mark nine times.
49ers vs. Colts predictions made at 2:36 p.m. ET on Dec. 21, 2025.
