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Open thread: Which player has been the toughest over the last 10 years?

Arik Armstead nailed his choice, but let’s have some fun with it.

Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images

It has been a weird decade for the San Francisco 49ers.

The team roared back to the NFL’s upper echelon in 2011, stayed there for three seasons and then fell off a cliff.

Jim Harbaugh’s final season in 2014, the team went 8-8 amidst an injury-filled, drama plagued season.

The team became a laughingstock for three seasons and since the hiring of John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan (plus Jed York finally realizing that he needs to stay the heck away from anything do with the on-field operations,) the Niners are back amongst the NFL elite.

Defensive lineman Arik Armstead was drafted in 2015, so he has been on both ends of the spectrum with the franchise.

Armstead joined Chris Simms’ on his podcast and was asked which player has been the hardest to play against during his career.

His answer isn’t surprising (h/t Marcus White of NBC Sports):

Russell Wilson is always tough to play against, of course,” Armstead told NBC Sports’ Chris Simms on the “Chris Simms Unbuttoned” podcast. “I’ve had plenty of battles (with him). So I would say consistently he’s probably the toughest because we’ve played against him so much.”

The Hobbit has been a thorn in the 49ers’ side for a long time. I can’t stand him, but I am also not a big enough of a hater to not give him credit for his accomplishments.

San Francisco has lost 13 of 17 games to the Seattle Seahawks since Wilson was drafted in 2012.

His ability to keep plays alive and avoid the rush is maddening at times and has had me swearing at the TV on many occasions.

The topic though, got me thinking: What other players over the past 10 seasons has been difficult for the 49ers to play against. Larry Fitzgerald and his 11 touchdowns over the 20 games since 2010 comes to mind.

Are there any other offensive or defensive players who seem to be at their best when they play the Niners?

Let us know in the comments below!