Below are the players that landed within the ranking and what analyst Sam Monson wrote about each.
Nick Bosa, DE
Rank: No. 11"One of the game's very best defenders this season, Bosa tied for the league lead with 90 pressures in the regular season before adding eight more in the playoffs. Bosa was a problem for any offense that had to block him, and he was the best run defender among the top edge rushers this season." — Monson
Trent Williams, T
Rank: No. 13"Williams has been arguably the league's best offensive lineman over the last several seasons and did little this year to change that story. He led all offensive tackles in overall PFF grade (91.7) for the third year in a row, allowing 19 total pressures in 17 games." — Monson
Christian McCaffrey, RB
Rank: No. 31"McCaffrey became the final version of his potential this season in San Francisco after the team traded for him midseason. He was an elite ball carrier and receiver, but his ability to line up all over the formation and interchange alignments with Deebo Samuel became a nightmare for opposing defenses to contend with." — Monson
Fred Warner, LB
Rank: No. 34"Warner continues to show he has special ability as an NFL linebacker. He makes more improbable plays — such as running step for step with CeeDee Lamb down the seam from mugging the A-gap pre-snap — than any other linebacker in football." — Monson
George Kittle, TE
Rank: No. 40"When the 49ers need to lean on Kittle, he shows that he is still a dominant game-breaker. He generated almost 1,000 yards receiving, including the playoffs, but they tended to come in feast or famine bursts due to the volume of playmakers San Francisco can deploy. Passes thrown his way this season generated a 140.5 passer rating." — Monson
Charvarius Ward, CB
Rank: No. 61"Ward justified the contract the 49ers gave him in the offseason and had an excellent year. He finished with 11 pass breakups in addition to his lone interception and posted the best PFF run-defense grade of any outside cornerback (91.0)." — Monson
Dre Greenlaw, LB
Rank: No. 86"Fred Warner is the superstar at linebacker for the 49ers, but Greenlaw has emerged as an excellent player in his own right alongside him. Greenlaw earned above-average PFF grades in every facet of play over the year and made 71 defensive stops including the playoffs, just one behind Warner." — Monson
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers vs. Cardinals PFF grades: Best and worst from the game, plus snap counts
The San Francisco 49ers improved to 3-0 after a 36-30 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3. Pro Football Focus released its grades and snap counts from the game, providing a closer look at which 49ers players stood out and who has more work to do. Highest-graded 49ers:... -
49ers vs. Broncos: 5 players to watch in Week 4
The San Francisco 49ers made it three in a row by defeating the Arizona Cardinals in a high-scoring affair last Sunday, 36-30. Brock Purdy continued his stellar play in the early season, tossing for four touchdowns. Those efforts culminated in the NFC Offensive Player of the... -
49ers Notebook: Shanahan not ruling Brandin Cooks out vs. Cardinals; Players need to step up amid injuries
We'll start this edition of the notebook with the San Francisco 49ers' defense, specifically the defensive line. The unit has endured several injuries early in the season, particularly along the interior. Projected starting defensive tackle Alfred Collins was lost for the... -
Watch: 49ers players practice Thursday ahead of Cardinals game
The San Francisco 49ers held their second practice of the week Thursday as they prepare to host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at Levi's Stadium. Videos from Thursday's practice are being added below. We'll start with this video of tight end George Kittle making the same...