Who were PFF’s highest- and lowest-graded 49ers players vs. Rams? Plus snap counts

The San Francisco 49ers improved their record to 4-4 after a 31-14 win against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8. 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 Williams, LT, 85.8, 53 snaps
• Christian McCaffrey, RB, 78.5, 43 snaps
• Daniel Brunskill, RG, 77.0, 22 snaps
• Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 75.6, 53 snaps
• Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 72.9, 52 snaps

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

• Nick Bosa, DE, 82.4, 48 snaps
• Fred Warner, LB, 81.4, 58 snaps
• Charles Omenihu, DE, 77.2, 33 snaps
• Oren Burks, LB, 71.3, 58 snaps
• Jimmie Ward, CB, 70.1, 56 snaps

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

• Spencer Burford, RG, 25.8, 31 snaps
• Willie Snead IV, WR, 52.4, 21 snaps
• Tyler Kroft, TE, 55.9, 18 snaps

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

• Tashaun Gipson Sr., FS, 41.1, 58 snaps
• Ambry Thomas, CB, 45.3, 8 snaps
• Kerry Hyder, DT, 47.4, 20 snaps

Quick Takeaways

We'll start with the star of the show—Christian McCaffrey. The new 49ers running back proved he was worth trading for. He was among the highest-graded offensive players, pulling off a hat trick, scoring a passing touchdown, receiving touchdown, and a rushing touchdown against the Rams. McCaffrey finished the game with 183 all-purpose yards, his sixth game of the season and 38th in his career with 100-or-more all-purpose yards. McCaffrey's 76.6 overall grade is his fifth this season of 71.9-or-more.

In his second game back from a high-ankle sprain, tackle Trent Williams appears to be playing at his typical high level. The offensive lineman was the game's second-highest graded player (Rams RT Rob Havenstein, 88.5).

Spencer Burford started the game at right guard but split time with Daniel Brunskill. Burford had 31 snaps, while Brunskill had 22. One was significantly better in Pro Football Focus' eyes. Brunskill earned the third-highest grade among 49ers offensive players, while Burford earned the game's lowest overall grade.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo earned his highest grade since Week 4 (87.5), also against the Rams. He finished the game 21-of-25 for 235 yards, two touchdowns, and a 132.5 passer rating. Garoppolo's 84 percent completion percentage is the fifth-highest in a single game in franchise history.

Brandon Aiyuk, who hauled in McCaffrey's touchdown throw, was the 49ers' highest-graded wide receiver. He finished the game with six receptions, 81 yards, and a touchdown on his six targets. The game was Aiyuk's third consecutive with 81-or-more receiving yards and six-or-more receptions, and he has three touchdowns receptions in the last three games.

Defensive end Nick Bosa was credited with three total pressures and a sack on 31 pass-rush attempts, earning the 49ers defense's highest overall grade. He now has eight sacks this season and 32.5 over his career, the ninth-most in franchise history.

It was linebacker Fred Warner who earned the game's highest pass-rushing grade, though. Like Bosa, he was credited with three total pressures and a sack but did so on only four pass-rushing attempts. The sack was the sixth of his career. Sunday represented Warner's fourth career game with 10-or-more tackles and one-or-more sacks.

Safety Tashaun Gipson earned his second consecutive poor grade from Pro Football Focus. His 41.1 overall grade was the lowest of any defender in the game. On the other hand, safety Jimmie Ward, once again playing in the slot, was among the five highest-graded 49ers defenders in the game, despite surrendering four catches for 40 yards on four targets. Ward had the game's second-highest tackling grade (82.6; Warner's was 82.9).

Snap Counts

Offense
53 - Aaron Banks (LG), George Kittle (TE), Jake Brendel (C), Jimmy Garoppolo (QB), Mike McGlinchey (RT), Trent Williams (LT)
52 - Brandon Aiyuk (WR)
43 - Christian McCaffrey (RB)
31 - Spencer Burford (RG)
30 - Ray-Ray McCloud III (WR)
22 - Daniel Brunskill (RG)
21 - Willie Snead IV (WR)
19 - Jeff Wilson Jr. (RB), Ross Dwelley (TE)
18 - Tyler Kroft (TE)
5 - Danny Gray (WR)
4 - Charlie Woerner (TE)
1 - Tay Martin (WR)

Defense
58 - Deommodore Lenoir (CB), Fred Warner (LB), Oren Burks (LB), Tashaun Gipson Sr. (FS)
56 - Jimmie Ward (CB)
55 - Talanoa Hufanga (SS)
52 - Charvarius Ward (CB)
48 - Nick Bosa (DE)
42 - Samson Ebukam (DE)
33 - Charles Omenihu (DE)
28 - Kevin Givens (DT)
22 - Hassan Ridgeway (DT)
21 - Drake Jackson (DE)
20 - Kerry Hyder (DT)
11 - Akeem Spence (DT)
8 - Ambry Thomas (CB)
7 - T.Y. McGill (DT)
3 - Tarvarius Moore (FS)

Special Teams
21 - Charlie Woerner
18 - George Odum
16 - Curtis Robinson, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Jordan Mason, Samuel Womack, Tarvarius Moore
15 - Ross Dwelley
11 - Robbie Gould (K)
8 - Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Ray-Ray McCloud III, Taybor Pepper (LS)
7 - Oren Burks, Willie Snead IV
6 - Jimmie Ward, Kerry Hyder, Talanoa Hufanga
5 - Aaron Banks, Daniel Brunskill, Jaylon Moore, Mike McGlinchey, Nick Zakelj, Spencer Burford, Tay Martin
4 - Deommodore Lenoir
3 - Charles Omenihu, Charvarius Ward, Fred Warner, Samson Ebukam, Tashaun Gipson Sr., Tyler Kroft
2 - Hassan Ridgeway, Kevin Givens
1 - Drake Jackson, Nick Bosa

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