PFF’s highest- and lowest-graded 49ers players vs. Raiders, plus snap counts
The San Francisco 49ers improved their record to 12-4 after a 37-34 overtime win against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17. Today, Pro Football Focus released its grades from the game. Which Niners played well, and who has more work to do?
Below are Pro Football Focus’ five highest-graded 49ers players on offense against the Raiders.
- Tyler Kroft, TE, 80.3, 18 snaps
- Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 78.6, 64 snaps
- Jordan Mason, RB, 76.5, 5 snaps
- Aaron Banks, LG, 75.4, 17 snaps
- Daniel Brunskill, RG, 75.1, 50 snaps
Below are the five highest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- Oren Burks, LB, 84.0, 5 snaps
- Jimmie Ward, CB, 72.9, 44 snaps
- Arik Armstead, DT, 72.2, 54 snaps
- Dre Greenlaw, LB, 70.9, 43 snaps
- Nick Bosa, DE, 67.7, 59 snaps
Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on offense.
- Spencer Burford, RG, 55.3, 67 snaps
- Kyle Juszczyk, FB, 58.0, 31 snaps
- Charlie Woerner, TE, 60.0, 2 snaps
Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- T.Y. McGill, DT, 34.1, 37 snaps
- Deommodore Lenoir, CB, 36.9, 66 snaps
- Jordan Willis, DE, 43.2, 17 snaps
Quick Takeaways
Tight end Tyler Kroft and running back Jordan Mason were among the top-ranked offensive players. However, the two combined for only 23 snaps on offense, which isn’t a large sample size.
Of the players with more significant snaps, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was the highest-ranked on offense, earning his highest overall grade since Week 6 (86.9 at Falcons). Aiyuk finished the game with nine receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown while adding 16 yards rushing. The trip into the end zone was his eighth of the season and 18th of his career.
Guard Aaron Banks left the game with what is feared to be an MCL sprain. He will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. Before leaving the game, Banks was on pace to record his best overall grade since Week 7 (91.6 vs. Chiefs).
Daniel Brunskill, who had previously played just seven career snaps at left guard, played well in relief of Banks, continuing a streak of solid Pro Football Focus grades (Week 15 – 78.6 at Seahawks, Week 16 – 74.7 vs. Commanders).
Coming in sixth among the 49ers’ offensive players is running back Christian McCaffrey, who earned his best grade since Week 11 against the Arizona Cardinals (79.9). McCaffrey recorded 19 carries for 121 yards and a touchdown while adding six receptions for 72 yards. He surpassed 1,000 yards rushing for the third time in his career.
McCaffrey’s six receptions increased his career total to 439 in 74 games, the most receptions by a running back through his first six seasons in NFL history, surpassing 49ers great Roger Craig (434 in 94 games). McCaffrey now has 1,801 all-purpose yards this season (1,094 rushing + 707 receiving).
Brock Purdy was the seventh-highest-graded 49ers player on offense. His 74.4 overall grade is on par with his performances over the past couple of weeks. However, his four-game streak of increasing Pro Football Focus grades has ended. He failed to surpass the 79.7 mark earned in Week 16.
For the second consecutive game, tackle Trent Williams has failed to crack the top five when it comes to highest-graded offensive players for the 49ers. He has been listed among the top five in every game he has played this season (Williams did not play Weeks 4-6). Williams’ past two overall grades of 66.1 and 70.2 are his lowest of the season.
Like Mason on offense, linebacker Oren Burks is among the highest-graded players on his side of the football but only played five snaps.
Defensive back Jimmie Ward recorded his highest grade of the season and the best mark since last season’s Wildcard playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys (also 72.9). Ward did not miss a tackle and allowed just 27 receiving yards in coverage.
After a shaky start following his return from injury, defensive tackle Arik Armstead has turned in impressive performances in the eyes of Pro Football Focus analysts. His three-game streak of 72.2-or-higher grades is his longest since the first four weeks of the 2021 season. In addition, Armstead’s run-defense grade of 75.6 is his best since Week 17 last season against the Houston Texans (75.7).
While Nick Bosa led the game in total pressures, something not uncommon for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner, the pass rusher recorded his lowest Pro Football Focus grade since Week 14 (63.1 vs. Buccaneers).
Snap Counts
Offense
67 – Brock Purdy (QB), Jake Brendel (C), Mike McGlinchey (RT), Spencer Burford (RG), Trent Williams (LT)
64 – Brandon Aiyuk (WR)
62 – George Kittle (TE)
59 – Jauan Jennings (WR)
57 – Christian McCaffrey (RB)
50 – Daniel Brunskill (RG)
31 – Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
28 – Ray-Ray McCloud III (WR)
18 – Tyler Kroft (TE)
17 – Aaron Banks (LG)
5 – Jordan Mason (RB), Tyrion Davis-Price (RB)
4 – Danny Gray (WR)
2 – Charlie Woerner (TE)
Defense
69 – Fred Warner (LB), Talanoa Hufanga (SS), Tashaun Gipson Sr. (FS)
66 – Charvarius Ward (CB), Deommodore Lenoir (CB)
59 – Nick Bosa (DE)
54 – Arik Armstead (DT)
45 – Azeez Al-Shaair (LB)
44 – Jimmie Ward (CB)
43 – Dre Greenlaw (LB)
37 – T.Y. McGill (DT)
28 – Charles Omenihu (DE)
27 – Samson Ebukam (DE)
23 – Kerry Hyder (DT)
22 – Javon Kinlaw (DT)
17 – Jordan Willis (DE)
16 – Drake Jackson (DE)
5 – Oren Burks (LB)
Special Teams
26 – Charlie Woerner
25 – Oren Burks
24 – George Odum
19 – Tarvarius Moore
18 – Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Jordan Mason, Samuel Womack
17 – Tyler Kroft
16 – Robbie Gould (K), Tay Martin
15 – Jordan Willis
10 – Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
9 – Ambry Thomas, Ray-Ray McCloud III
8 – Colton McKivitz, Daniel Brunskill, Jake Brendel, Jaylon Moore, Spencer Burford
7 – Charles Omenihu, Mike McGlinchey, Talanoa Hufanga
6 – Fred Warner, Kerry Hyder, T.Y. McGill, Tyrion Davis-Price
5 – Deommodore Lenoir, Samson Ebukam, Tashaun Gipson Sr.
3 – Charvarius Ward, Kyle Juszczyk
2 – Drake Jackson
1 – Aaron Banks, Arik Armstead, Azeez Al-Shaair, Javon Kinlaw, Nick Bosa
