As Christian McCaffrey starts to get back into form and the 49ers’ offense is slowly beginning to resemble an elite squad again, it’s worth a jog down memory lane to remember that two of their key weapons — Brock Purdy and George Kittle — are only there thanks to a simple twist of fate and a nearly forgotten third-string quarterback.

Purdy already proved this season he could keep the 49ers in the playoff race without most of his weapons, and executed a massive game-winning drive Sunday.

Quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Geno Smith will be going head to head on Nov. 17, when the San Francisco 49ers (5-4) and Seattle Seahawks (4-5) meet at Levi's Stadium. In the piece below, we take a look at the numbers to decide which signal caller is more likely to take his team to victory.

The quarterback has shown he can lead a team struggling with injuries, and now, with Christian McCaffrey back, San Francisco is at a turning point.

In his best game of the season -- Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys -- Brock Purdy finished with 26.0 fantasy points. His stat line: 18-of-26 (69.2%), 260 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs; 8 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD.

Brock Purdy faced significant scrutiny during the San Francisco 49ers' recent three-game losing streak, with some wondering if the quarterback had been overhyped during the team's 5-0 start to the season.