The San Francisco 49ers finished the 2021 regular season with a 10-7 record after a 27-24 overtime win against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18.
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 Rams.
- Trent Sherfield, WR, 89.9, 10 snaps
- Jauan Jennings, WR, 82.2, 44 snaps
- Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 76.2, 65 snaps
- JaMycal Hasty, RB, 76.1, 18 snaps
- Laken Tomlinson, LG, 74.8, 70 snaps
Below are the five highest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, LB, 80.2, 9 snaps
- Kevin Givens, DT, 80.0, 10 snaps
- Dre Greenlaw, LB, 76.6, 63 snaps
- Kentavius Street, DT, 75.3, 19 snaps
- Arden Key, DT, 75.1, 19 snaps
Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on offense.
- Kyle Juszczyk, FB, 48.8, 35 snaps
- Charlie Woerner, TE, 50.7, 11 snaps
- Colton McKivitz, LT, 55.5, 70 snaps
Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- Charles Omenihu, DE, 41.8, 14 snaps
- Dontae Johnson, CB, 44.3, 60 snaps
- Jimmie Ward, FS, 51.0, 65 snaps
Quick Takeaways
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo went 23-of-32 for 316 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions, earning an overall grade of 68.7, a better grade than his 56.6 mark against the Tennessee Titans in Week 16. His Week 18 grade was his second-highest in his last four outings, and he played through a torn ligament and chipped bone in his right thumb.
A trio of wide receivers earned the offense's highest grades. They are Trent Sherfield, Jauan Jennings, and Brandon Aiyuk. Deebo Samuel just missed the top five, earning the offense's sixth-highest grade (74.4). The four receivers combined for 309 receiving yards with Aiyuk leading the team with 107 receiving yards. Jennings hauled in two touchdown passes. One from Garoppolo and the other from Samuel.
Sherfield tied Rams tight end Tyler Higbee for the game's highest grade (89.9).
Linebacker Fred Warner and defensive lineman Arden Key combined to bring down Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. Key finished the regular season with 6.5 sacks and now has 9.5 in his career. Warner now has 4.5 career sacks.
Linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles earned his second-highest overall grade of the season, albeit in just nine snaps. Defensive tackle Kevin Givens earned his third-highest overall grade of the season, also during limited playing time.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw has only appeared in three games this season. However, his Week 18 outing earned him his highest grade of the season, despite being responsible for two penalties.
Defensive lineman Kentavius Street's 75.3 overall grade was his highest of the season and best mark since Week 10 of the 2020 season.
Kyle Juszczyk's 48.8 overall grade was his lowest mark of the season, and the sixth time this season the fullback has earned a grade of 58.8-or-lower. However, he finished the season with a pass-blocking grade of 84.2, his highest pass-blocking grade since 2016 with the Baltimore Ravens.
Snap Counts
Offense
70 - Alex Mack (C), Colton McKivitz (LT), Daniel Brunskill (RG), Jimmy Garoppolo (QB), Laken Tomlinson (LG), Tom Compton (RT)
66 - George Kittle (TE)
65 - Brandon Aiyuk (WR)
50 - Deebo Samuel (WR)
44 - Jauan Jennings (WR)
37 - Elijah Mitchell (RB)
35 - Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
18 - JaMycal Hasty (RB)
11 - Charlie Woerner (TE)
10 - Trent Sherfield (WR)
6 - Jeff Wilson Jr. (RB), Travis Benjamin (WR)
2 - Ross Dwelley (TE)
Defense
65 - Ambry Thomas (CB), Emmanuel Moseley (CB), Fred Warner (LB), Jimmie Ward (FS)
63 - Dre Greenlaw (LB)
60 - Dontae Johnson (CB), Nick Bosa (DE)
52 - Arik Armstead (DE)
39 - Jaquiski Tartt (FS)
38 - Samson Ebukam (DE)
34 - D.J. Jones (DT)
21 - Darqueze Dennard (CB)
19 - Arden Key (DT), Kentavius Street (DT)
15 - Jordan Willis (DE)
14 - Charles Omenihu (DE)
10 - Kevin Givens (DT)
9 - Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (LB)
2 - Talanoa Hufanga (FS)
Special Teams
24 - Charlie Woerner
23 - Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Mark Nzeocha
19 - River Cracraft, Trent Sherfield
15 - Curtis Robinson
14 - JaMycal Hasty, Ross Dwelley
13 - Jeff Wilson Jr.
12 - Josh Norman, Robbie Gould (K)
10 - Darqueze Dennard, Jordan Willis
9 - Arik Armstead, D.J. Jones, Kyle Juszczyk, Taybor Pepper (LS)
8 - Dontae Johnson
7 - Talanoa Hufanga
5 - Aaron Banks, Daniel Brunskill, Deebo Samuel, Jake Brendel, Laken Tomlinson, Tom Compton
4 - Arden Key, Charles Omenihu, Jimmie Ward, Travis Benjamin
2 - Mitch Wishnowsky (P)
1 - Jaquiski Tartt