Nine 49ers made CBS Sports' list of the top 100 NFL players entering the 2024 season, which is the most of any franchise in the NFL.
Cracking the list of the top 100 in inverse order are Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel, Charvarius Ward, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Christian McCaffrey, and Trent Williams.
Williams is the top-rated offensive lineman, while CMC ranked first among running backs.
Reining Super Bowl Champion and perennial MVP candidate Patrick Mahomes again topped CBS Sports' list of top 100 players.
"Picking the best player in the NFL is easy: a layup, a gimme putt," wrote CBS' Pete Prisco. "If Mahomes three-peats this season," asked Prisco, "is it time to say he's the best ever?"
By best, Prisco is referring to quarterbacks, conceding that former 49er Jerry Rice is the greatest player of all time.
Ranking second on Prisco's 2024 list is Myles Garrett, last year's NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The Browns' edge rusher totaled 14 sacks and added 86 pressures in 2023, and as Prisco stated, "is one of those special defensive players who must be accounted for on every play."
When asked who should be number one on the 2024 list, taking himself out of the equation, Garrett was unequivocal in his response: the best player is Christian McCaffrey. "He breaks through tackles. He runs hard every single time. Couldn't really stop the guy. I mean running the ball, receiving the ball, the guy can throw as well.
He (McCaffrey) has dedicated himself to each facet of the game…He's like a Renaissance man," Garrett said.
While McCaffrey drew high praise from the league's best defender, Trent Williams, not CMC, is the league's third highest-ranked player on the CBS Sports list.
Prisco notes Williams remains the game's best-left tackle. "He is key to their (San Francisco's) run game, but he also excels in pass protection, said Prisco.
One could argue that Williams is the least replaceable player on the league's most talented roster because the talent gap between him and his understudy is so great.
Let's discuss those 49ers who cracked the top 100 list and how Twitter responded to those rankings.
#85 Brock Purdy, QB
Purdy excels in the 49er's offense, putting to rest any talk that he couldn't do it again after his rookie season in 2022, wrote Prisco. "He (Purdy) is perfect for what they do on offense, and he averaged 9.6 (yards) per pass attempt to lead the league," Prisco added.
If Twitter is an accurate barometer, Purdy's ranking as the league's twelfth-best quarterback did not sit well with Niner fans.
Reese, a Twitter respondent, was perplexed: "So the quarterback leads a comeback win in the NFCC games to get his team (to) the SB, but he's the 85th-best player in the game?"
Sensing a conspiracy, RVM argued, "CBS is consulting with Chris Simms here on the Purdy placement."
#81 Deebo Samuel, WR
Prisco identified Deebo as a pure football player. He added that his toughness is a big part of their (San Francisco's) identity. Samuel caught 60 passes with seven going for touchdowns and rushed for five scores and 225 yards.
Yet, Deebo's ranking tumbled from 57 last year to 81, entering the 2024 season.
Ron Deforest tweeted, "A major problem I see with most player rankings is they view Deebo solely as a WR….. Top 20 WRs come out every year. We've seen one Deebo in 30 years!"
#60 Chavarius Ward, CB
Ward led the league in passes defended last year but doesn't get the respect he deserves, Prisco noted. And yet, this year's ranking dispels that notion because he didn't even crack the top 100 list last year.
#45 Brandon Aiyuk, WR
Aiyuk made the top 100 list for the first time, catapulting up to No. 45. Aiyuk excels against man coverage. His big-play ability was key to the 49ers passing game, said Prisco. He added that Aiyuk had 75 catches with seven touchdowns and averaged 17.9 yards per catch, which was the best in the league for players with 70 or more catches.
#37 George Kittle, TE
Kittle slid in the rankings from No. 32 last year to No. 37 on this year's list. Yet, he continues to be one of—if not the—league's best combo tight ends, blocking and receiving. Prisco notes Kittle hauled in 65 passes and averaged 17.9 yards per catch, the best of his career.
#22 Fred Warner, MLB
Warner, a true off-the-ball star, remains the game's best inside linebacker, wrote Prisco. He can run and cover, and play the run.
Even though Warner climbed the list from No. 37 last year, Adrian Stone tweeted, "Hard to find 21 players better than Fred and 84 better than Purdy."
#10 Nick Bose, DE
Bosa's sack total fell from 18 1/2 in 2022 to 10 ½ last season, perhaps because he missed all of training camp and the pre-season locked in a contract dispute. He had just one multiple sack game last season after having four in 2022, wrote Prisco. Yes, Bosa's play dropped off last year. However, Bosa played big in the postseason, producing two sacks and four hits on Jared Goff in the NFC Championship game and three hits and nine hurries against Mahomes in the Super Bowl.
#8 Christian McCaffrey, RB
CMC rose from No. 27 on last year's list to No. 8 this year, and many think he was slighted for not ranking higher. McCaffrey is the game's best back. A dual threat who can kill a defense with his ability to run it and catch it, wrote Prisco. McCaffrey is the prototypical back for today's game—and he gets paid like it, Prisco added.
#3 Trent Williams, OT
Williams is the league's best tackle and best offensive lineman. He excels at run blocking and pass protection. At 36, Prisco said the only concern is when he starts to show his age.
For the complete list, click on the following:
CBS Sports: NFL Top 100 Players of 2024
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-top-100-players-of-2024-patrick-mahomes-reigns-again-myles-garrett-top-defender-in-priscos-rankings/
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