Jared Dubin of CBS Sports released his annual "Triplets" rankings, evaluating every team's top quarterback, running back, and pass-catcher to determine the league's strongest offensive trios.
The 49ers' combination of quarterback Brock Purdy, running back Christian McCaffrey, and wide receiver Mike Evans landed at No. 8 overall. According to Dubin, however, San Francisco was one of the toughest teams to evaluate.
"The Niners are once again a difficult team to rank," Dubin wrote. "Not only do you have to disentangle their players from the Kyle Shanahan system, you also have to figure out how to feel about injury issues at multiple spots (Purdy missed extended time last year and Evans swaps in for [TE George] Kittle here after the latter's Achilles injury) as well as the gap between McCaffrey's rushing efficiency and his prowess as a receiver out of the backfield."
Purdy was limited to nine games last season because of a turf toe injury, while Evans appeared in only eight games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after battling hamstring and clavicle injuries.
While McCaffrey totaled an impressive 2,126 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns last season, his 3.9 yards per carry marked his lowest average since 2020, when he averaged 3.8 yards per carry in just three games.
"The Niners were the first team to receive any top-five votes, and they're one of just two teams that stayed in the exact same place on the list as last year," Dubin added.
The only other team to remain in the same position was the Cleveland Browns, who once again ranked last.
Within the NFC West, the Los Angeles Rams' trio of Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams, and Puka Nacua finished second overall, trailing only the Cincinnati Bengals. The Seattle Seahawks ranked 14th, while the Arizona Cardinals came in at No. 26.
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