Four weeks of NFL football are in the books, and the San Francisco 49ers are one of two remaining unbeaten teams. They are coming off another dominant win, a 35-16 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
Gordon McGuinness has compiled his 2023 NFL First-Quarter All-Pro Team for Pro Football Focus, and four 49ers players made the roster. Not so coincidentally, they are the same names that lead their respective positions in overall Pro Football Focus grades.
RB Christian McCaffrey
Christian McCaffrey leads the NFL in carries (80), rushing yards (459), and rushing touchdowns (6). Furthermore, his 98 touches for 600 all-purpose yards and seven total touchdowns through four games also lead the league. No NFL running back has more plays of 10 or more rushing yards than McCaffrey's 14.
"McCaffrey is on pace for 2,550 scrimmage yards this season, dominating for the 49ers to open the year," wrote McGuinness. "He is averaging 4.0 yards after contact per carry and leads all running backs with 22 missed tackles forced on rushing attempts through four weeks. His 323 rushing yards after contact are more than all but himself and D'Andre Swift have in total rushing yards."
WR Brandon Aiyuk
Brandon Aiyuk is the NFL's highest-graded offensive player, boasting an impressive receiving grade of 93.6. The 49ers receiver has yet to drop a pass this season, hauling in 17 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns.
"Aiyuk is the only player averaging more yards per route run than Tyreek Hill, coming in at 4.57," wrote McGuinness. "He has yet to drop a pass from the 17 catchable targets thrown his way, and while the 49ers' offense has plenty of weapons, he has been quarterback Brock Purdy's favorite target when healthy this season."
LT Trent Williams
Trent Williams is the NFL's highest-graded tackle, boasting an overall grade of 88.8. His pass-blocking grade of 88.0 ranks him second among tackles, with only Tristan Wirfs of the Buccaneers earning a higher mark (88.4).
"Williams has been nearly perfect in pass protection in 2023, allowing just three hurries from 132 pass-blocking snaps through four weeks," wrote McGuinness. "He's been a standout as a run blocker, too, with his 84.8 PFF run-blocking grade ranking third among offensive tackles."
DE (Edge) Nick Bosa
Nick Bosa's remarkable overall grade of 93.8 leads all NFL defenders, and his 92.7 pass-rushing grade ranks second behind Myles Garrett, the other edge rusher on the all-pro roster.
"Bosa has been a standout run defender and pass-rusher so far this season," wrote McGuinness. "His 20 pressures through four weeks ties him for seventh among edge defenders, with half of those pressures resulting in a quarterback knockdown via either a sack or hit."
Almost making the cut
The 49ers nearly had five representatives on the Pro Football Focus all-pro team. On special teams, Punter Mitch Wishnowsky was edged out by ex-Niner Bradley Pinion, now with the Atlanta Falcons.
