Several questions still surround the 49ers heading into the new season. How will their revamped receiving corps perform? How much will Nick Bosa's return impact a pass rush that struggled last season? Can the offensive line consistently protect quarterback Brock Purdy?
Most importantly, can the 49ers stay healthy throughout the 2026 season?
How does the national media view the 49ers compared to the rest of the NFL? Below is a roundup of the latest NFL power rankings, highlighting where San Francisco currently stands across various outlets. As always, the highest rankings are listed first.
The Athletic
Current Ranking: 6
Previous Ranking: 7
"There was no shortage of offseason storylines around the 49ers, including the arrest of their owner and a car accident that injured coach Kyle Shanahan. They also dealt with a number of offseason injuries. But they've gotten good news of late with George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey, and they could use the regular season to get back up to speed after so much drama." — Josh Kendall and Chad Graff
USA Today
Current Ranking: 7
Previous Ranking: 7
"Are there electrical substations in Melbourne? The Niners seem likely to have nearly all of their injured stars − and plenty of in-country rest − as they prepare to kick off the season in Australia. But will it all be enough against the mighty Rams, who have won four of five against San Francisco?" — Nate Davis
Bleacher Report
Current Ranking: 8
Previous Ranking: N/A
"Kyle Shanahan's squad has been hit hard by injuries over the years. At the same time, the Niners remain one of the league's most competitive teams. In five of the last seven seasons, San Francisco has made the postseason. Shanahan and Co. own a 72-45 record during that stretch. There's no reason to expect this year's team to take a step back this fall, not with Fred Warner, Nick Bosa and George Kittle back in the lineup despite coming off season-ending injuries. From there, the Niners front office reworked the wide receiver room by signing Mike Evans, drafting De'Zhaun Stribling and re-signing Deebo Samuel. Also, the acquisition of Osa Odighizuwa should provide an interior pass-rush presence to help the squad's edge defenders and hopefully create far more pressure than last season. On paper, the 49ers are set. Everyone needs to stay on the field, though." — Brent Sobleski
Sporting News
Current Ranking: 9
Previous Ranking: 8
"The 49ers have had their share of offseason drama with coach and ownership, but the players are trending in the right direction with a healthy Nick Bosa boosting the defense and a healthy George Kittle kicking up the offense." — Vinnie Iyer
CBS Sports
Current Ranking: 10
Previous Ranking: 6
"They have a star-filled roster, but those players have to stay on the field. They didn't last season. If they do, they will push for the division title." — Pete Prisco
FOX Sports
Current Ranking: 10
Previous Ranking: 12
"Outside the season-ending injury to WR Ricky Pearsall, it looks like all their pieces will be in place for Week 1. So consider the Niners a provisional entry in the top 10, but keep the duct tape handy just in case." — Ralph Vacchiano
Pro Football Talk
Current Ranking: 15
Previous Ranking: 12
"It's impossible to ignore the collective impact of one weird story after another." — Mike Florio
The Ringer
Current Ranking: 15
Previous Ranking: N/A
"I have every finger crossed that the 49ers get to Week 1 healthy and that this team can contend again. Tight end George Kittle will be back from his torn Achilles early in the season, edge rusher Nick Bosa is working his way back from his torn ACL, and the rest of this team's most important players should be in uniform to open the season in Australia. Last year gave us proof that head coach Kyle Shanahan could construct an unstoppable offense without consistent production from his wide receivers, and now the 49ers have veteran Mike Evans and exciting rookie De'Zhaun Stribling to provide a complementary mix of dependable production and explosive-play potential. Three of San Francisco's first five opponents have elite secondaries (Los Angeles, Denver, and Seattle), and I can't wait to watch this team's passing game get tested early in the year." — Diante Lee
Yahoo! Sports
Current Ranking: 16
Previous Ranking: 13
"One of the quieter injury stories through August was defensive end Nick Bosa missing most of camp. He has knee tendinitis after tearing his ACL last season. The 49ers face a big challenge against the Rams in Australia, and it doesn't get easier if Bosa and George Kittle are limited coming off injuries." — Frank Schwab
NFL.com
Current Ranking: 17
Previous Ranking: 16
"Yet again, the 49ers enter a new campaign with plenty of health issues: Ricky Pearsall's done for the season; George Kittle is attempting to play in Week 1 after tearing his Achilles eight months ago; Nick Bosa has battled knee tendinitis in his return from last September's ACL tear; and Mike Evans dealt with ailments throughout August. If any team can overcome injuries, though, it's the 49ers, who are also testing international game preparation strategies by arriving in Australia well ahead of game day. We'll see if that pays off against the Rams." — Nick Shook
Sports Illustrated
Current Ranking: 17
Previous Ranking: N/A
"Injury concerns have really warped my perception of this team, and I feel like the 49ers will hover on the outer reaches of the top 15 until midseason. This has been one hell of an offseason for Kyle Shanahan & Co., weathering events both personal and physical. Now, hurl in a trip to Australia in which everyone is expecting the Rams to arrive hours before the game and dominate, and it may just take us some time to appreciate what the 49ers will eventually become this year: a playoff team." — Conor Orr
Nobody's perfect. Did you find a mistake in this article? Report it.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
George Kittle makes 'step back' joke, feeling good ahead of Week 1
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said tight end George Kittle is one of the players the San Francisco 49ers hope to "be smart" with during Week 1's matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. After all, it was just eight months ago that Kittle suffered a torn... -
Report: George Kittle expected to take team reps as 49ers weigh Week 1 return
The San Francisco 49ers could get their clearest indication yet this week of whether George Kittle will be ready for the regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. Kittle is expected to participate in team drills when the 49ers return to... -
49ers insider reveals what to expect from Deebo Samuel in 2026
The potential impact of Deebo Samuel in the San Francisco 49ers' offense has somewhat flown under the radar as the start of the 2026 NFL season approaches. The truth is, Samuel has quietly put together a solid training camp. More importantly, unlike most of the other 49ers... -
Was 49ers' Brock Purdy disrespected in Week 1 NFL QB rankings?
One would think San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has done enough to validate his status among the NFL's top signal-callers. However, his place among the league's elite quarterbacks remains a subject of debate. NFL Media's Nick Shook, an Around The NFL writer,...