Back from the knee sprain that sidelined him in the first game between the NFC West rivals, Davis is looking to help turn the tables in Monday night's rematch by winning his matchups against former 49ers linebacker Julian Peterson — or anyone else Seattle aligns against him.

"I can make a difference," said Davis, who has 17 of his 25 catches in the three games since returning from a knee sprain suffered Sept. 23 at Pittsburgh. "It helps a lot when you've got all your weapons on the field."

If there has been a bright spot in the 49ers' dismal offensive showing this season, it has been the recent emergence of Davis. The second-year pro has been Alex Smith's favorite target since the quarterback returned two weeks ago from the shoulder separation he suffered in the first meeting with Seattle.

Davis, 23, has established career-highs in consecutive weeks with six- and seven-catch performances, though the 49ers are still carrying a six-game losing streak into their latest encounter with Seattle.

But Davis' recent play has caught the attention of Peterson.

"I think the biggest thing is his size and speed," Peterson said of the 253-pound Davis. "He gets separation down the field. We have to make sure that we use our athletes to counter that and to help out in certain situations."

Peterson has dealt with fast, physical tight ends before, once limiting Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez to one catch for six yards while playing for the 49ers in 2002. In Seattle, he has been at the heart of the pass rush — wracking up three of the six sacks the Seahawks had in their Sept. 23 meeting with 49ers. But he figures to augment his pass rush role with some matchups with the 49ers' tight end this time around.

Davis said he can beat whoever the Seahawks line up against him one-on-one.

"Cornerback, safety, linebacker, it don't matter," Davis said. "And if it's a one-on-one matchup, like my coach said, you've got to be drooling because I'm going to get open every time, no matter who it is."

Coach Mike Nolan said Davis is "light years" removed from the raw, unpolished route runner that he was when he first showed after being selected sixth overall in 2006.

Smith said his strong play in the last couple weeks has accelerated his development.

"You see it in games and on the practice field," Smith said. "We're talking through things: what I'm thinking, what he's thinking, what we're seeing. He's gaining an understanding of what we're trying to do, what his role is on certain plays, how to attack defenses."

Nolan said another part of Davis' game has gotten better — his on-field temperament.

Against Atlanta last week, he stepped in to break up a fight before one of his teammates could be flagged. Nolan called it his best game yet from a maturity standpoint. He stressed that point as the team readied to return to Seattle, where as a rookie Davis nearly cost the 49ers a victory because of a taunting penalty following a touchdown catch.

Davis said he's learned from that episode and he's learned from the 49ers' brutal losing streak.

"You learn how be to a team guy," he said. "You learn how important winning is and if someone is getting into an argument or fight, you need to go break it up, little things like that."

And he sees the emerging connection between him and Smith as just the start of something that is going to become much better.