PFF’s highest- and lowest-graded 49ers players through first 8 games

The San Francisco 49ers are enjoying a much-needed bye week, trying to get healthier before embarking on the remainder of the 2022 season. With eight games in the books, and the 49ers sitting with a 4-4 record, let’s look at Pro Football Focus’ highest- and lowest-graded players on offense and defense.

Below are Pro Football Focus’ 10 highest-graded 49ers players on offense this season.

1. Trent Williams, T, 88.4 overall grade, 313 snaps
2. Christian McCaffrey, RB, 86.8, 353 snaps
3. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 81.7, 468 snaps
4. Colton McKivitz, T, 73.9, 45 snaps
5. Elijah Mitchell, RB, 71.9, 17 snaps
6. George Kittle, TE, 71.6, 337 snaps
7. Mike McGlinchey, RT, 70.2, 468 snaps
8. Tevin Coleman, RB, 68.3, 32 snaps
9. Deebo Samuel, WR, 68.2, 369 snaps
10. Aaron Banks, LG, 68.0, 490 snaps

Below are the 10 highest-graded 49ers players on defense.

1. Nick Bosa, DE, 89.9, 312 snaps
2. Oren Burks, LB, 79.2, 103 snaps
3. Charvarius Ward, CB, 451 snaps
4. Dre Greenlaw, LB, 77.3, 410 snaps
5. Fred Warner, LB, 76.4, 497 snaps
6. Talanoa Hufanga, S, 76.4, 486 snaps
7. Emmanuel Moseley, CB, 70.9, 111 snaps
8. Tarvarius Ward, S, 70.9, 15 snaps
9. Tashaun Gipson, S, 70.1, 502 snaps
10. Samson Ebukam, DE, 66.3, 318 snaps

Below are the five lowest-graded 49ers players on offense.

1. Charlie Woerner, TE, 36.9, 136 snaps
2. Danny Gray, WR, 42.6, 33 snaps
3. Spencer Burford, T, 49.0, 404 snaps
4. Brock Purdy, QB, 50.5, 11 snaps
5. Jordan Mason. RB, 51.1, 6 snaps

Below are the five lowest-graded 49ers players on defense.

1. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, LB, 41.4, 74 snaps
2. Akeem Spence, DT, 43.2, 108 snaps
3. Javon Kinlaw, DT, 46.7, 102 snaps
4. Kevin Givens, DT, 47.1, 231 snaps
5. Ambry Thomas, CB, 47.1, 24 snaps

Quick Takeaways

While Trent Williams’ 88.4 overall grade is his lowest since joining the 49ers in 2020, the offensive lineman still ranks second among all NFL tackles (Andrew Thomas, 90.2).

Christian McCaffrey earned most of his overall grade before joining the 49ers. His 86.8 grade this season is the highest of his career. His 78.5 overall grade against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday was his third-highest of the season.

Brandon Aiyuk’s 81.7 overall grade is the fifth-highest in the league among wide receivers and the highest of his career. San Francisco’s high-priced wideout, Deebo Samuel, ranked No. 48 among NFL receivers.

While George Kittle ranks eighth among NFL tight ends, his 71.6 overall grade is his lowest since his 2017 rookie campaign (65.8).

Defensive end Nick Bosa’s 8.5 sacks are tied with Matt Judon of the New England Patriots and Za’Darius Smith of the Minnesota Vikings for the most this season. Bosa is so good that the NFL awarded him half a sack during the team’s bye week—seriously. The NFL awarded the pass rusher half a sack initially awarded to linebacker Fred Warner against the Rams. Bosa is the 49ers’ highest-graded player this season and is the fifth-highest-graded edge rusher this season.

Cornerback Charvarius Ward, the 49ers’ big offseason free agent acquisition, is on pace to earn his highest-ever Pro Football Focus grade for a single season. Of course, he’ll need to turn things around to do that. Ward’s grades over the last three games (60.3, 47.5, 58.6) were a significant drop compared to the three previous games (90.6, 79.5, 81.7).

Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner are the NFL’s ninth- and 12th-highest-graded linebackers. Greenlaw is on pace for his highest-ever Pro Football Focus grade by a significant margin.

Talanoa Hufanga is the league’s 15th-highest-graded safety.