# 49ers vs Chargers prediction: what pundits picked

Week 15, 2026: San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Chargers

Dec 18, 2026 · not played yet · 1 call on record · updated Sep 9, 1:32 PM ET

Who do pundits pick in 49ers vs Chargers? The one pundit with a call on record so far takes the Chargers. Every call is graded once the game is final.

Page: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-15-49ers-at-chargers

Picks:

- [Nick Winkler](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/nick-winkler) took the Chargers; said Sep 9, 2026; on Locked On 49ers (podcast); not settled yet — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b72b3856-bff5-45a8-9698-19c2f6480d44

## How they come in

The 49ers are 7-1; the Chargers are 0-8 and have lost 8 straight. On win totals, 13 pundits put the 49ers at 10.1 wins on average, and 13 pundits put the Chargers at 8.1 wins on average.

Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

- San Francisco 49ers: 7-1 (235 scored, 156 allowed)
  - Last games: W 38-17 vs Raiders; L 20-29 at Falcons; W 23-17 vs Commanders
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 2nd, defense 9th of 32
  - Last season: 12-5
  - Win-total calls: 13 pundits, average 10.1, 3 to 14 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 5 of 8 49ers games
- Los Angeles Chargers: 0-8, lost 8 straight (121 scored, 219 allowed)
  - Last games: L 22-44 vs Texans; L 9-24 at Rams; L 6-22 at Chiefs
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 32nd, defense 26th of 32
  - Last season: 11-6
  - Win-total calls: 13 pundits, average 8.1, 2 to 12 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 6 of 8 Chargers games

## Players to watch

Each club's starting quarterback, leading rusher, receiver and tight end, and its sack and tackle leaders, with their 2026 regular season so far, with the latest call on each from a pundit ranked on the leaderboard whose record beats the naive pick, made since the 2026 schedule came out ("No." is that rank). Leaderboard: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/leaderboard

- [Brock Purdy](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brock-purdy) (Starting QB, QB): 1,980 passing yards · 17 TD, 5 INT · 69.1% completions · 201 rushing yards · 8 games; 14th in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Nov 3, 2026: Brock Purdy to stay with San Francisco 49ers (not settled yet)
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Sep 6, 2026: Brock Purdy to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet)
- [Christian McCaffrey](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/christian-mccaffrey) (RB1, RB): 457 rushing yards on 102 carries · 10 TD · 36 catches for 270 · 8 games; 19th in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Jun 26, 2026: Christian McCaffrey to outplay his draft cost (that mid first round pick) (not settled yet)
  - No. 29 Brian Peacock, Aug 25, 2026: Christian McCaffrey to make the roster (scored 100 out of 100)
- [Mike Evans](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/mike-evans) (WR1, WR): 27 catches for 420 yards · 3 TD · 6 games; 33rd in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Nov 9, 2026: Watkins is probably just a one-week rental, since Evans figures to be back by Week 11 at the latest (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Jun 27, 2026: Mike Evans to outplay his draft cost (a locked and loaded top twenty four guy) (not settled yet)
- [George Kittle](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/george-kittle) (TE1, TE): 38 catches for 483 yards · 5 TD · 8 games; 25th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 29 Brian Peacock, Aug 25, 2026: George Kittle to make the roster (scored 100 out of 100)
  - No. 30 Andrew Erickson, Sep 29, 2026: George Kittle to finish top 5 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet)
- [DeForest Buckner](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/deforest-buckner) (Sack leader, DT): 4 sacks · 12 solo tackles · 8 games; 30th in the NFL in sacks
  - No. 27 Tyler Sullivan, Oct 27, 2026: DeForest Buckner to move — “may ship out before the deadline” (not settled yet)
  - No. 54 Colin Cowherd, Oct 27, 2026: DeForest Buckner to move to San Francisco 49ers (not settled yet)
- [Fred Warner](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/fred-warner) (Tackle leader, LB): 0.5 sacks · 36 solo tackles · 8 games; 14th in the NFL in solo tackles
  - No. 26 Bucky Brooks, Sep 3, 2026: Fred Warner to make All-Pro (not settled yet)
  - No. 29 Brian Peacock, Aug 25, 2026: Fred Warner to make the roster (scored 100 out of 100)
- [Justin Herbert](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/justin-herbert) (Starting QB, QB): 1,591 passing yards · 6 TD, 11 INT · 61.3% completions · 190 rushing yards · 8 games; 21st in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Nov 3, 2026: Justin Herbert to stay with Los Angeles Chargers (not settled yet)
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 30, 2026: Justin Herbert to outplay his draft cost (an ADP of QB9 and is going in the back half of the seventh round) (not settled yet)
- [Omarion Hampton](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/omarion-hampton) (RB1, RB): 369 rushing yards on 102 carries · 3 TD · 11 catches for 63 · 8 games; 25th in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 17, 2026: Omarion Hampton to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Aug 15, 2026: Omarion Hampton to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet)
- [Ladd McConkey](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ladd-mcconkey) (WR1, WR): 17 catches for 286 yards · 1 TD · 6 games; 76th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Nov 6, 2026: Ladd McConkey to move to Pittsburgh Steelers (not settled yet)
  - No. 5 Tom Pelissero, Sep 18, 2026: McConkie's out, and I expect him to be out for the game. (Chargers vs. Raiders, Week 2) (not settled yet)
- [Oronde Gadsden II](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/oronde-gadsden-ii) (TE1, TE): 19 catches for 172 yards · 1 TD · 8 games; 135th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 11, 2026: Oronde Gadsden II to fall short of his draft cost (TE20, Overall RK150 | ECR vs. ADP: -20) (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 7, 2026: Oronde Gadsden II to be 3rd on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Tuli Tuipulotu](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tuli-tuipulotu) (Sack leader, LB): 3 sacks · 15 solo tackles · 1 interception · 8 games; 51st in the NFL in sacks
  - No. 23 Jordan Dajani, Oct 29, 2026: Tuli Tuipulotu to move — “potential trade chip” (not settled yet)
  - No. 40 JP Acosta, Nov 6, 2026: Tuli Tuipulotu to sign a new deal with Los Angeles Chargers (not settled yet)
- [Daiyan Henley](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/daiyan-henley) (Tackle leader, LB): 0.5 sacks · 21 solo tackles · 1 interception · 8 games; 140th in the NFL in solo tackles
  - No. 18 Carter Bahns, Nov 11, 2026: Daiyan Henley to be 3rd on the depth chart (not settled yet)

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The room is counted in pundits, each one's latest call standing. Accuracy is out of 100; the naive pick is the home team.
The week: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-15
Method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology