PFF’s highest- and lowest-graded 49ers players vs. Saints, plus snap counts

The San Francisco 49ers improved their record to 7-4 after a 13-0 win against the New Orleans Saints in Week 12. 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 Saints.

• Jordan Mason, RB, 91.4, 9 snaps
• Trent Williams, LT, 84.9, 70 snaps
• Jauan Jennings, WR, 78.6, 29 snaps
• Ray-Ray McCloud III, WR, 76.9, 7 snaps
• Daniel Brunskill, RG, 72.9, 32 snaps

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

• Fred Warner, LB, 89.6, 57 snaps
• Samson Ebukam, DE, 83.9, 35 snaps
• Charvarius Ward, CB, 78.0, 56 snaps
• Dre Greenlaw, LB, 77.2, 57 snaps
• Azeez Al-Shaair, LB, 76.2, 27 snaps

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

• Aaron Banks, LG, 42.6, 70 snaps
• Kyle Juszczyk, FB, 53.7, 30 snaps
• Danny Gray, WR, 57.7, 2 snaps

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

• Jordan Willis, DE, 36.1, 16 snaps
• Deommodore Lenoir, CB, 42.9, 55 snaps
• Talanoa Hufanga, FS, 47.1, 57 snaps

Quick Takeaways

Jordan Mason earned the game's highest overall grade, albeit in only nine offensive snaps. It's not the biggest sample size, but the running back finished with 25 rushing yards on five carries.

As usual, tackle Trent Williams finished the game with one of the highest overall grades. He has now earned a grade of 80.6-or-more in five of his last six games, including Week 11's career-high 94.4 overall grade.

Wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who came up with an impressive touchdown reception off a tipped pass, was the game's highest-graded receiver. He finished the game with six receptions for 49 yards and the touchdown. The five-yard score was his first of the season and the sixth of his career.

Jimmy Garoppolo earned his worst grade since Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The quarterback's overall Pro Football Focus grades have fallen over the last three games (Week 10 - 76.9, Week 11 - 65.6, Week 12 - 63.8). He completed 26 of 37 passing attempts for 222 yards and the touchdown to Jenning, earning a passer rating of 94.7.

Garoppolo has avoided throwing an interception in four consecutive games, the longest streak of his career. Although, that streak would have ended on Sunday had it not been for a defensive penalty nullifying a pick.

For the second time in three games, guard Aaron Banks landed among the bottom three 49ers offensive players. His 42.6 overall grade is his lowest since Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers. Pro Football Focus credits Banks with a team-high seven pressures surrendered, six hurries, and a hit.

Kyle Juszczyk finds himself in the bottom three for the third time this season. While the fullback earned a 71.8 pass-blocking grade, his 52.5 run-blocking grade pulled down the overall mark.

Fred Warner earned the game's highest defensive grade. The linebacker finished with seven tackles, two passes defensed, and a forced fumble. It was his seventh career forced fumble and first since Week 17 of last season, against the Houston Texans.

Warner forced the fumble out of the arms of Saints running back Alvin Kamara. Defensive end Samson Ebukam came up with the recovery, the fifth of his career and first since 2019 as a member of the Los Angeles Rams. Ebukam earned the second-highest defensive grade, finishing the game with two tackles to add to the fumble recovery.

Cornerback Charvarius Ward earned his highest grade since Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers. His overall grades have climbed over the last five games (Week 7 - 47.5, Week 8 - 60.3, Week 10 - 64.1, Week 11 - 66.3, Week 12 - 78.0). Ward's coverage grade of 77.6 was his third-highest of the season (Week 5 - 90.5, Week 4 - 79.9). He surrendered only two completions for 11 yards on five targets.

Safety Talanoa Hufanga earned his lowest grade of the season. He was credited with one missed tackle, earned a penalty, and surrendered three receptions for 23 yards on three targets.

Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir was also among the bottom three 49ers defenders, thanks to a 38.6 coverage grade. He surrendered three receptions for 60 yards on four targets.

Defensive end Jordan Willis earned his lowest overall grade since Week 13 of the 2020 season, albeit with a limited 16-snap sample size.

Snap Counts

Offense
70 - Aaron Banks (LG), Jake Brendel (C), Jimmy Garoppolo (QB), Mike McGlinchey (RT), Trent Williams (LT)
68 - Brandon Aiyuk (WR), George Kittle (TE)
55 - Deebo Samuel (WR)
44 - Christian McCaffrey (RB)
38 - Spencer Burford (RG)
32 - Daniel Brunskill (RG)
30 - Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
29 - Jauan Jennings (WR)
17 - Charlie Woerner (TE)
15 - Elijah Mitchell (RB)
9 - Jordan Mason (RB)
7 - Ray-Ray McCloud III (WR)
6 - Ross Dwelley (TE)
2 - Danny Gray (WR)

Defense
57 - Dre Greenlaw (LB), Fred Warner (LB), Talanoa Hufanga (FS), Tashaun Gipson Sr. (FS)
56 - Charvarius Ward (CB)
55 - Deommodore Lenoir (CB)
45 - Nick Bosa (DE)
35 - Samson Ebukam (DE)
28 - Charles Omenihu (DE), Jimmie Ward (CB), Kevin Givens (DT)
27 - Azeez Al-Shaair (LB)
25 - Hassan Ridgeway (DT)
19 - Kerry Hyder (DT), T.Y. McGill (DT)
16 - Jordan Willis (DE)
15 - Drake Jackson (DE)
1 - George Odum (SS), Oren Burks (LB), Samuel Womack (CB)

Special Teams
14 - Charlie Woerner
12 - George Odum, Oren Burks, Ross Dwelley
11 - Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Jordan Mason, Samuel Womack, Tarvarius Moore
7 - Ambry Thomas, Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Robbie Gould (K), Taybor Pepper (LS)
5 - Kyle Juszczyk, Ray-Ray McCloud III
4 - Talanoa Hufanga
3 - Aaron Banks, Charvarius Ward, Colton McKivitz, Daniel Brunskill, Deommodore Lenoir, Fred Warner, Jaylon Moore, Jimmie Ward, Jordan Willis, Mike McGlinchey, Spencer Burford
2 - Charles Omenihu, Dre Greenlaw, Hassan Ridgeway, Jauan Jennings, Nick Bosa, Samson Ebukam
1 - Azeez Al-Shaair, Drake Jackson, Kerry Hyder, Kevin Givens, T.Y. McGill, Tashaun Gipson Sr.