The San Francisco 49ers bounced back from their Week 6 setback with a decisive win over the Atlanta Falcons. Star running back Christian McCaffrey led the charge, totaling an impressive 201 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in Week 7, helping the 49ers secure their fifth victory of the season.
Quarterback Brock Purdy remains sidelined with a toe injury, but Mac Jones has thrived as the starter, posting a 4-1 record in Purdy's absence. Next up: a pivotal interconference matchup at NRG Stadium against the Houston Texans.
How does the national media view the 49ers compared to the rest of the league? Below is a roundup of the latest NFL power rankings, highlighting where San Francisco currently stands in each. As always, the highest rankings are listed first.
Sporting News
Current Ranking: 2
Previous Ranking: 3
"The 49ers have had a few hiccups through their injury-riddled offense and also Nick Bosa and Fred Warner missing on defense. But they are staying methodical on both sides, getting by with scheming until they can score more." — Vinnie Iyer
The Athletic
Current Ranking: 8
Previous Ranking: 12
"No team has dealt with more injuries to more important players than the Niners, yet they still keep finding ways to win. The latest came thanks to Christian McCaffrey, who put up 201 total yards of offense and two touchdowns." — Chad Graff and Josh Kendall
ESPN
Current Ranking: 10
Previous Ranking: 11
"Unsung nonstarter/role player: WR Kendrick Bourne. Bourne didn't even join the 49ers until Week 2, but with injuries ravaging the receiver room, he has been a crucial target for quarterback Mac Jones and someone the Niners can count on besides running back Christian McCaffrey. Through six games, Bourne has 25 receptions for 385 yards, making him the most productive non-McCaffrey pass catcher on the roster. Though the team is expecting wideouts Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) to return at some point, Bourne has earned the opportunity to keep getting snaps." — Nick Wagoner
Sports Illustrated
Current Ranking: 10
Previous Ranking: 14
"The 49ers suffer from a kind of implosion of the top 10, which saw a few teams rise, a few good teams drop, and, in the process, force out some of the other good teams like dough overage in a cookie bake. Still, I loved this pregame tactic by Kyle Shanahan to rally the 49ers after the loss of Fred Warner: show him as a rookie, absolutely swag-less." — Conor Orr
Bleacher Report
Current Ranking: 12
Previous Ranking: 13
"The San Francisco 49ers have mastered the art of winning gritty, low-scoring and tight games through the first seven weeks of the season. Last Sunday night, they won 20-10, which is their biggest margin of victory this season. San Francisco won its other four games by five or fewer points. Even more impressive, the 49ers are grinding out victories without their best defensive player, Nick Bosa, or the centerpiece of that unit in linebacker Fred Warner, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury last week. The 49ers have been in the middle of the pack in our power rankings, but they're surging with backup quarterback Mac Jones and a young defensive group." — Moe Moton
CBS Sports
Current Ranking: 12
Previous Ranking: 15
"They are 5-2 and tied for the division lead. The defense came up big against the Falcons without stars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, who are gone for the year." — Pete Prisco
NFL.com
Current Ranking: 12
Previous Ranking: 15
"The Niners are 5-2, but with a barely positive point differential (plus-7) and a slew of injured players, so I don't truly know how they're doing it, other than to say that the coaching has been excellent and the depth options have stepped up tremendously well. The first defensive test after Fred Warner's season-ending injury went swimmingly, with San Francisco holding the Falcons in check nearly all night in an inspired showing. Of course, it wouldn't be a 49ers game unless someone was hit with a malady, in this case starting CB Renardo Green, who went down with a toe injury, further weakening a group that was already without Upton Stout. And it seems like they might have to go without Brock Purdy again for a tough test at Houston in Week 8. But Christian McCaffrey showed Sunday night that he still can carry a team, so the 49ers figure to maintain their competitiveness during this challenging stretch." — Eric Edholm
Yahoo! Sports
Current Ranking: 12
Previous Ranking: 16
"Robert Saleh is a masterful defensive coach. The 49ers were without Nick Bosa and Fred Warner on Sunday night and shut down the Falcons. There still are questions about the defense's long-term viability without those two stars, but Saleh will get the most out of what he has." — Frank Schwab
The Ringer
Current Ranking: 13
Previous Ranking: 13
"Christian McCaffrey is giving us a throwback running back season, doing all the work to carry a pretty average offense. McCaffrey is averaging 26 touches per game and is on pace for well over 400 total touches on the season. But to what end? It's not like we're seeing a good amount of explosive plays or efficient gains from him right now. By checkdown or by carry, he's gaining five to eight yards at a time and taking a brutal amount of contact, all in the name of keeping this offense on schedule." — Diante Lee
Pro Football Talk
Current Ranking: 14
Previous Ranking: 16
"Don't write them off just yet." — Mike Florio
USA Today
Current Ranking: 15
Previous Ranking: 16
"However the Niners have little choice but to force-feed RB Christian McCaffrey if they're to remain relevant. CMC had never had a 200-yard game for them prior to Sunday night's explosion (he'd had three for Carolina earlier in his career)." — Nate Davis
More info on: Nick Bosa, Renardo Green, Mac Jones, Christian McCaffrey, Ricky Pearsall, Brock Purdy, Upton Stout, Fred Warner
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