With Super Bowl LVI and the 2021 season in the books, Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus was quick to release the top 101 individual performances of the year. The analytics site determines the league's best players, regardless of position, and focuses on the accomplishments during the 2021 season, including the playoffs, without factoring in past performance or future potential.
Monson also shared his thoughts on each of the 101 players on the list. Five San Francisco 49ers players made the list.
Topping Pro Football Focus' top 101 players is the highest-graded player of the season, 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams. He earned a 98.3 overall grade on his 1,062 snaps, jumping up 10 spots from last year's ranking.
"Williams wasn't just the best offensive lineman in the NFL this season, but he was the best player overall and had a historically great season," wrote Monson. "His 96.6 PFF grade is the highest mark ever given to a tackle, and the next best grades belong to Jonathan Ogden and Joe Thomas — Hall of Fame or future Hall of Fame players. Williams allowed 23 pressures across 18 games, including the playoffs, but his run blocking was a true marvel. He simply erased defenders from the point of attack and paved the way for some big gains."
After being unranked a year ago, versatile wide receiver Deebo Samuel came in at No. 8 on the list. He earned a 90.4 overall grade through 910 snaps played.
"Samuel was one of the most dynamic players in the entire NFL this season, coining a new position — wide back — to describe his utilization as both a wide receiver and running back," explained Monson. "Samuel racked up over 1,400 receiving yards in the regular season, but his eight rushing scores also set an NFL record for a wide receiver. He lined up in the backfield 80 times during the season and became one of the biggest matchup problems in the NFL."
Tight end George Kittle landed at No. 16 after being unranked last year. His 91.4 overall grade came on 971 snaps played.
"Even with Kittle operating as a second fiddle to Samuel within the 49ers offense, he racked up 916 yards and six scores in the regular season while leading all tight ends in yards per route run (2.35)," wrote Monson. "When Samuel wasn't in the lineup, Kittle proved capable of carrying the load as the team's No. 1 receiving option. Kittle is an elite receiver but also thrives as a blocker — something that really separates him in a world of one-dimensional tight ends."
Then you have one of the best young pass rushers in the league, Nick Bosa, who came in at No. 31 after understandably being unranked last year. The defender suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Week 2 of the 2020 season. His 89.4 overall grade this past season came on 975 snaps.
"Including the playoffs, only Maxx Crosby racked up more pressures than the 88 posted by Bosa among edge rushers," explained Monson. "Bosa returned from a major knee injury to pick up exactly where he left off as one of the best pass-rushers in football. As was the case in his rookie year, he seemed to pick things up in the playoffs, recording five sacks and 13 pressures in total across the 49ers' three postseason games. The only notable difference between this version of Bosa and his previous iteration was a PFF run-defense grade that took a step backward this season."
The last 49ers player on the list is star linebacker Fred Warner, who came in at No. 70, 40 spots lower than last year. His 80.1 overall grade came on 1,170 snaps.
"Linebacker has become one of the hardest positions to play in the NFL," wrote Monson. "Everything modern offenses do is designed in large part to put them in a bind and stretch their responsibilities. Warner was the best linebacker in the league a season ago, earning himself a big payday with that performance. He couldn't quite replicate that play in 2021, but he was still very good. Warner posted impressive grades in all facets of play and made 48 defensive stops in the regular season, eight more than last year."
