Pro Football Focus kicked off its offseason full of player rankings this week with its "Top 101 players from the 2017 season" list. The ranking is based solely on a player's play during the 2017 season, regardless of position. While a quarterback may be viewed as more important than a tight end, a player's position is not factored in. However, the postseason is a factor in the ranking.
PFF has only revealed the players ranked 51 through 101, with the rest being released in stages through Thursday, but two San Francisco 49ers have already made the list.
The highest ranked 49ers player (so far) is linebacker Reuben Foster, who just completed his rookie campaign but missed six games in due to injuries. He finished the season with 72 combined tackles and a pass defensed through 10 game appearances. Foster was also named to the 2017 Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team.
Foster's rank: No. 59
49ers rookie Reuben Foster made his debut in the PFF Top 101!https://t.co/CCczj79Y4u pic.twitter.com/xM8ipL3NQ1
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) February 6, 2018
Sam Monson of PFF wrote the following about Foster:
"Injuries aside, Reuben Foster was spectacular as a rookie and if he had more playing time, he could have featured significantly higher on the list. Foster looks like he is continuing the recent tradition of standout 49ers linebackers, and was visibly playing at a different speed than most linebackers. His overall PFF grade of 90.7 was one of the best grades in the league, and he did it on just 553 snaps."
PFF Elite Stat: Foster's run-stop percentage of 11.2 was tied for fifth among inside linebackers this season.
The only other player on the list so far is veteran tackle Joe Staley. He has been named to the Pro Bowl six times during his 11-year career, including the game he played in on January 28. Staley finished 2017 as the second-highest graded tackle, according to PFF. He did not allow a quarterback pressure during the 49ers' season finale against the Los Angeles Rams and allowed just three over the team's final five games.
Staley's rank: No. 61
Monson wrote the following about Staley, who has appeared in PFF's Top 101 five times:
"A season ago, Joe Staley looked like age might be catching up to him, but he was able to reverse that in 2017 and get back to some of his best play. He didn't quite hit the highs of 2012, but his overall PFF grade of 87.4 was the best grade he has had since 2014. Staley allowed 24 total pressures all season while maintaining his excellent run-blocking standards."
PFF Elite Stat: Staley's pass-blocking efficiency of 96.7 was 10th among tackles this year.
