PFF’s best and worst graded 49ers players vs. Bengals, plus snap counts

The San Francisco 49ers dropped their record to 5-3 after a 31-17 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals 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 Bengals.

• George Kittle, TE, 83.9, 55 snaps
• Christian McCaffrey, RB, 82.9, 57 snaps
• Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 79.3, 54 snaps
• Brock Purdy, QB, 72.7, 59 snaps
• Colton McKivitz, RT, 69.4, 59 snaps

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

• Clelin Ferrell, DE, 89.4, 37 snaps
• Oren Burks, LB, 73.4, 9 snaps
• Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, LB, 69.7, 2 snaps
• Talanoa Hufanga, FS, 68.6, 63 snaps
• Fred Warner, LB, 67.8, 63 snaps

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

• Ronnie Bell, WR, 44.7, 5 snaps
• Spencer Burford, RG, 46.1, 59 snaps
• Jauan Jennings, WR, 47.2, 50 snaps

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

• Javon Kinlaw, DT, 40.9, 17 snaps
• Dre Greenlaw, LB, 41.0, 60 snaps
• Tashaun Gipson Sr., FS, 51.1, 63 snaps

Quick Takeaways

Despite throwing two interceptions, quarterback Brock Purdy's 72.7 overall grade was his highest over the past three games. He finished the game 22 of 31 for 365 yards, a touchdown, and a passer rating of 94.2. Purdy added 57 rushing yards on six carries, boosting his overall Pro Football Focus grade. His 78.0 run grade was the second-highest of his career (79.2 in the Wild Card game last season).

Jaylon Moore, filling in at left tackle for Trent Williams for the second consecutive game, earned a 61.6 overall grade, a significant drop-off from his solid 74.5 grade a week ago. He allowed two pressures and his lowest run-blocking grade (58.3) since Week 14 last season.

Defensive end Clelin Ferrell earned the 49ers' highest overall grade in Week 8. His 89.4 mark was his highest since Week 14 of the 2021 season. Ferrell finished the game with five tackles, a forced fumble, and 0.5 sacks.

Defensive tackle Arik Armstead racked up two sacks, his first multi-sack performance since Week 17 of the 2021 season (2.5). However, his 62.6 overall grade is his third-lowest of the season, primarily due to a poor tackling grade of 36.3. Armstead finished the game with four tackles, two tackles for a loss, and two quarterback hits.

Linebacker Fred Warner earned his third-lowest grade of the season, but it still landed him among the five highest-graded 49ers defenders. Pro Football Focus credited Warner with a missed tackle and his second-lowest coverage grade (56.0) of the season.

Running back Christian McCaffrey's 82.9 overall grade is his second-highest of the season (91.0 in Week 4). He has now scored a touchdown in 17 consecutive games, tying Baltimore Colts running back Lenny Moore's record, which has withstood since the 1960s.

Tight end George Kittle earned a team-leading 149 receiving yards on nine catches, earning an overall grade of at least 83.9 for the third time this season and the 49ers' highest offensive grade.

Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk finished the game with five catches for 109 yards, earning his highest grade since Week 5 (82.4).

Neither Jauan Jennings nor rookie Ronnie Bell recorded a catch against the Bengals, with each earning personal season-low grades, primarily due to poor run-blocking grades (34.3 for Jennings, 31.1 for Bell). It was Jennings' lowest overall grade since Week 11 last season (46.3).

Dre Greenlaw's 41.0 overall grade was a season low and his lowest mark since Week 16 last season. The linebacker finished the game with eight tackles.

Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw finds himself among the three lowest-graded defensive players for the third time this season. He finished the game with one tackle and a quarterback hit.

Snap Counts

Offense
59 - Aaron Banks (LG), Brock Purdy (QB), Colton McKivitz (RT), Jake Brendel (C), Jaylon Moore (LT), Spencer Burford (RG)
57 - Christian McCaffrey (RB)
55 - George Kittle (TE)
54 - Brandon Aiyuk (WR)
50 - Jauan Jennings (WR)
29 - Ray-Ray McCloud III (WR)
22 - Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
11 - Charlie Woerner (TE)
7 - Elijah Mitchell (RB)
5 - Ronnie Bell (WR)
4 - Ross Dwelley (TE)
1 - Willie Snead IV (WR)

Defense
63 - Charvarius Ward (CB), Deommodore Lenoir (CB), Fred Warner (LB), Nick Bosa (DE), Talanoa Hufanga (FS), Tashaun Gipson Sr. (FS)
60 - Dre Greenlaw (LB)
55 - Isaiah Oliver (CB)
48 - Arik Armstead (DT)
44 - Javon Hargrave (DT)
37 - Clelin Ferrell (DE)
17 - Javon Kinlaw (DT), Kevin Givens (DT)
16 - Randy Gregory (ROLB)
10 - Drake Jackson (DE)
9 - Oren Burks (LB)
2 - Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (LB)

Special Teams
22 - Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, George Odum
19 - Charlie Woerner
16 - Ji'Ayir Brown, Jordan Mason
15 - Ambry Thomas, Ross Dwelley
13 - Dee Winters
10 - Kendall Sheffield
9 - Ray-Ray McCloud III, Willie Snead IV
7 - Jake Moody (K), Oren Burks, Ronnie Bell
6 - Charvarius Ward, Clelin Ferrell, Deommodore Lenoir, Drake Jackson, Fred Warner, Javon Kinlaw, Kevin Givens, Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Randy Gregory, Talanoa Hufanga, Taybor Pepper (LS)
3 - Colton McKivitz, Jaylon Moore, Jon Feliciano, Matt Pryor, Nick Zakelj, Spencer Burford
2 - Anthony Brown, Isaiah Oliver

Related News

• Ferrell, Kittle and McCaffrey Form PFF Top Performer Trio in #CINvsSF 49ers.com • Oct 30, 2023
• How PFF graded Purdy, 49ers' defense in troubling loss to Bengals NBCS Bay Area • Oct 30, 2023