Pro Football Focus revealed the first 10 players in its ranking of the 50 best players in the NFL right now. Nos. 41 through 50 have been announced, with the rest of the rankings being revealed through July 21.
Two San Francisco 49ers players find themselves in the latest reveal. They are running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Interestingly, both are in the tail end of the overall top 50.
McCaffrey came in at No. 44. While seemingly low on the list, the running back didn't even make Pro Football Focus' top 50 last offseason.
"What happens when one of the most exciting running backs in football is traded to a team coached by one of the best offensive minds in the game?" wrote analyst Sam Monson. "He ends up leading the league in PFF receiving grade at the position (92.4) and looking virtually unstoppable within the offense. McCaffrey's second year in San Francisco could be even more exciting than the first."
The star running back amassed 1,880 all-purpose yards and 13 total touchdowns last season. One thousand two hundred and ten yards and 10 touchdowns came after the Carolina Panthers traded him to San Francisco.
Samuel barely made the top 50 list, coming in at No. 50. It's a 22-spot drop from his ranking of No. 28 last offseason. Still, Pro Football Focus recognizes the 49ers wideout's unique ability to do anything on the offensive side of the football.
"Samuel is one of one," wrote Monson. "A unique player, he has also found the perfect coach to maximize his talents. Ostensibly a wide receiver, Samuel has also lined up in the backfield over 100 times in each of the last two seasons. He broke 36 tackles in 2023 to lead all receivers."
Even Samuel admits that his 2022 campaign was a letdown compared to the breakout season he enjoyed in 2021 when he racked up 1,770 all-purpose yards and 14 total touchdowns. His 864 total yards last season were less than half that of the previous year.
"Oh, it was awful," Samuel said in June. "Every aspect. ... I'll never put nothing like that back on tape again."
