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

The San Francisco 49ers improved their record to 11-4 after a 37-20 win against the Washington Commanders in Week 16. 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 Commanders.

• George Kittle, TE, 95.6, 47 snaps
• Brock Purdy, QB, 79.7, 52 snaps
• Spencer Burford, RG, 78.8, 25 snaps
• Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 75.7, 50 snaps
• Daniel Brunskill, RG, 74.7, 27 snaps

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

• Nick Bosa, DE, 92.2, 55 snaps
• Jordan Willis, DE, 87.5, 28 snaps
• Ambry Thomas, CB, 78.1, 6 snaps
• Michael Dwumfour, DT, 77.9, 22 snaps
• Fred Warner, LB, 76.1, 67 snaps

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

• Tyler Kroft, TE, 53.0, 20 snaps
• Jauan Jennings, WR, 53.2, 46 snaps
• Kyle Juszczyk, FB, 54.2, 22 snaps

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

• Dre Greenlaw, LB, 33.3, 66 snaps
• Oren Burks, LB, 50.9, 6 snaps
• Samuel Womack, CB, 51.8, 12 snaps

Quick Takeaways

Brock Purdy finds himself among the five highest-graded 49ers players on offense for the first time. The rookie quarterback's upward trending grades continue, starting with a 61.4 overall mark in his first extended playing time during Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins and climbing to 79.7 against the Commanders (69.1 vs. TB, 70.3 vs. SEA).

Purdy finished the game 15-of-22 for 234 passing yards, two touchdowns, an interception, and a passer rating of 114.6. He becomes the first quarterback in franchise history to win his first three NFL starts and the first rookie quarterback since 1950 to win his first three starts and throw two-or-more touchdown passes in each game.

George Kittle earned the game's highest overall grade. The tight end registered six receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns. He now has a single-season career-high eight receiving touchdowns this season and 26 over his career.

Spencer Burford's 78.8 overall grade and 79.8 run-blocking grade are career highs. However, the guard allowed one pressure and one sack in 14 pass-blocking snaps, lowering his pass-blocking grade to 56.8.

Brandon Aiyuk led all 49ers wide receivers with 81 receiving yards on five catches and seven targets.

Kyle Juszczyk finds himself among the offensive players with the three lowest grades for the fourth time this season. The veteran fullback is on track for his lowest single-season grade since joining the 49ers and has seen his season grades drop year to year since 2019.

Nick Bosa earned the highest overall grade among the game's defensive players. The pass rusher finished with a game-high eight pressures to go along with his two sacks, increasing his season sack total to a career-high and league-high 17.5. He is two sacks away from the 49ers' single-season franchise record of 19.5, achieved by Aldon Smith in 2012.

Defensive end Jordan Willis recorded a career-high overall grade of 87.5, finishing the game with three pressures, a hit, two hurries, three tackles, a tackle for a loss, and a fumble recovery.

Cornerback Ambry Thomas also recorded a career-high overall grade (78.1) to go along with his career-high coverage grade of 77.9.

Linebacker Fred Warner recorded a game-high 13 tackles and has now registered 100 or more tackles (111 this season) in a single season for the fifth consecutive year.

Linebacker Dre Greenlaw earned the lowest grade among 49ers players and the third-lowest grade of the game (WAS FS Darrick Forrest - 28.8, WAS RG Trai Turner - 30.3).

Snap Counts

Offense
52 - Aaron Banks (LG), Brock Purdy (QB), Jake Brendel (C), Mike McGlinchey (RT), Trent Williams (LT)
50 - Brandon Aiyuk (WR)
47 - George Kittle (TE)
46 - Jauan Jennings (WR)
39 - Christian McCaffrey (RB)
27 - Daniel Brunskill (RG)
25 - Spencer Burford (RG)
22 - Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
20 - Tyler Kroft (TE)
19 - Ray-Ray McCloud III (WR)
13 - Tyrion Davis-Price (RB)
2 - Danny Gray (WR)
1 - Charlie Woerner (TE), Willie Snead IV (WR)

Defense
67 - Deommodore Lenoir (CB), Fred Warner (LB), Talanoa Hufanga (FS)
66 - Dre Greenlaw (LB), Tashaun Gipson Sr. (FS)
61 - Charvarius Ward (CB)
55 - Nick Bosa (DE)
49 - Samson Ebukam (DE)
48 - Arik Armstead (DE)
46 - Jimmie Ward (CB)
35 - Charles Omenihu (DT)
28 - Jordan Willis (DE)
26 - Azeez Al-Shaair (LB)
22 - Michael Dwumfour (DT), T.Y. McGill (DT)
19 - Akeem Spence (DT)
16 - Javon Kinlaw (DT)
12 - Samuel Womack (CB)
7 - George Odum (FS)
6 - Ambry Thomas (CB), Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (LB), Oren Burks (LB), Tarvarius Moore (FS)

Special Teams
25 - Charlie Woerner
20 - George Odum, Oren Burks
17 - Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Jordan Mason
16 - Tarvarius Moore
15 - Robbie Gould (K)
14 - Samuel Womack
13 - Jordan Willis, Tyler Kroft
12 - Ambry Thomas
9 - Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
8 - Ray-Ray McCloud III, Willie Snead IV
7 - Aaron Banks, Colton McKivitz, Daniel Brunskill, Jake Brendel, Jaylon Moore, Spencer Burford
6 - Kyle Juszczyk, Talanoa Hufanga
4 - Danny Gray
3 - Fred Warner, Jimmie Ward
2 - Akeem Spence, Charles Omenihu, Deommodore Lenoir, Samson Ebukam, T.Y. McGill, Tashaun Gipson Sr.
1 - Azeez Al-Shaair, Charvarius Ward, Christian McCaffrey, Dre Greenlaw, George Kittle