The San Francisco 49ers dropped their record to 6-8 after a 12-6 loss against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15. Today, Pro Football Focus released its grades and snap counts from the game. Which Niners stood out, and who has more work to do?
Below are Pro Football Focus' five highest-graded 49ers players on offense against the Rams.
- George Kittle, TE, 84.4, 52 snaps
- Jaylon Moore, LT, 65.0, 54 snaps
- Isaac Guerendo, RB, 61.6, 41 snaps
- Ricky Pearsall, WR, 59.8, 30 snaps
- Chris Conley, WR, 59.3, 3 snaps
Below are the five highest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- Fred Warner, LB, 92.1, 64 snaps
- Dre Greenlaw, LB, 87.6, 30 snaps
- Nick Bosa, DE, 80.2, 47 snaps
- Deommodore Lenoir, CB, 78.6, 64 snaps
- Isaac Yiadom, CB, 77.5, 8 snaps
Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on offense.
- Aaron Banks, LG, 42.7, 54 snaps
- Eric Saubert, TE, 43.9, 17 snaps
- Deebo Samuel, WR, 44.7, 42 snaps
Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, LB, 33.0, 26 snaps
- Kalia Davis, DT, 35.9, 17 snaps
- Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, 48.8, 31 snaps
Quick Takeaways
LB Fred Warner
Fred Warner delivered a dominant performance, earning a 92.1 defensive grade, his highest since Week 4 against the Rams. Warner led the team with impressive grades in run defense (90.1), tackling (84.3), and pass rushing (91.1). He finished with a game-high 15 tackles and added a pass defensed.
- FS Talanoa Hufanga, DT Maliek Collins - 2 each
- SS Ji'Ayir Brown, DT Jordan Elliott, CB Charvarius Ward - 1 each
CB Deommodore Lenoir
Deommodore Lenoir earned the team's highest coverage grade (76.5). He allowed four receptions for 30 yards on seven targets and recorded two passes defensed. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford owned a 67.6 passer rating while targeting Lenoir.
LB Dre Greenlaw
In his much-anticipated return from injury, Dre Greenlaw made an immediate impact with eight tackles and was all over the field in the first half. Despite exiting in the third quarter due to knee soreness, Greenlaw posted the second-highest defensive grade on the team at 87.6. For context, Greenlaw surpassed that grade only twice last season: 88.0 (Week 17) and 89.9 (Divisional Playoffs).
DE Nick Bosa
Back from a three-game absence due to injury, Nick Bosa earned an 80.2 defensive grade, his best since Week 5 against the Cardinals. His 76.4 pass-rushing grade marked a season-high since Week 4 against the Patriots. Bosa recorded four tackles and led the team with six pressures.
- DE Nick Bosa - 6
- DT Maliek Collins - 4
- DE Yetur Gross-Matos - 3
- DE Leonard Floyd - 2
- DT Evan Anderson, DT Jordan Elliott, CB Deommodore Lenoir, DT Kalia Davis, LB Fred Warner - 1 each
Brock Purdy struggled, completing 14 of 31 passes for 142 yards with one interception, resulting in a 45.4 passer rating—his second-lowest of the season (36.7 vs. Chiefs, Week 7). Purdy's 54.7 offensive grade narrowly avoided being among the three lowest on the team and marked his third-worst grade of the year (46.4 vs. Bills, Week 13; 54.6 vs. Chiefs, Week 7). He completed just one of eight deep passes (20 or more yards) for 33 yards, earning a disappointing 36.3 passing grade on such attempts. Notably, Purdy was 0-for-5 on deep throws to the outside.
TE George Kittle
George Kittle earned the highest offensive grade on the team. This was the third time in four games that Kittle achieved an offensive grade of 84.4 or higher. He hauled in four receptions for 61 yards on seven targets.
WR Deebo Samuel
Deebo Samuel's frustration over a lack of opportunities didn't translate into production. His 44.7 offensive grade was a career low, placing him among the three lowest-graded 49ers offensive players. Samuel managed just three catches for 16 yards, bringing his total to 116 scrimmage yards over the last five games.
Best run-blocking and pass-blocking grades
Interestingly, no 49ers offensive lineman claimed the team's top grades in either run-blocking or pass-blocking. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings earned a stellar 90.8 run-blocking grade, tying Rams right guard Kevin Dotson for the best of the game. RB Isaac Guerendo earned the team's best pass-blocking grade at 75.7.
Offensive line
The 49ers' offensive line had a rough outing overall. Left tackle Jaylon Moore, filling in for Trent Williams, allowed three pressures but still posted the highest offensive grade among linemen (65.0) and the top pass-blocking grade (75.1). Right guard Dominick Puni recorded the best run-blocking grade among linemen, but also surrendered a team-high five pressures.
- RG Dominick Puni - 5
- RT Colton McKivitz - 4
- LT Jaylon Moore, LG Aaron Banks, C Jake Brendel - 3 each
49ers Week 15 Snap Counts
Offense
54 - Aaron Banks (LG), Brock Purdy (QB), Colton McKivitz (RT), Dominick Puni (RG), Jake Brendel (C), Jaylon Moore (LT)
52 - George Kittle (TE)
51 - Jauan Jennings (WR)
42 - Deebo Samuel (WR)
41 - Isaac Guerendo (RB)
30 - Ricky Pearsall (WR)
27 - Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
17 - Eric Saubert (TE)
4 - Jacob Cowing (WR)
3 - Chris Conley (WR), Patrick Taylor (RB)
Defense
64 - Deommodore Lenoir (CB), Fred Warner (LB), Renardo Green (CB)
62 - Talanoa Hufanga (FS)
60 - Ji'Ayir Brown (SS)
57 - Charvarius Ward (CB)
47 - Nick Bosa (DE)
45 - Maliek Collins (DT)
39 - Jordan Elliott (DT), Leonard Floyd (DE)
31 - Yetur Gross-Matos (DE)
30 - Dre Greenlaw (LB)
26 - Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (LB)
22 - Evan Anderson (DT)
19 - Sam Okuayinonu (DE)
17 - Kalia Davis (DT)
10 - Tashaun Gipson Sr. (SS)
8 - Isaac Yiadom (CB)
6 - Dee Winters (LB)
5 - Robert Beal Jr. (DE)
Special Teams
25 - Isaac Yiadom
22 - Eric Saubert
21 - Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
20 - Brayden Willis, Chris Conley, Nick McCloud, Robert Beal Jr.
17 - Patrick Taylor
14 - Jake Tonges
12 - Dee Winters, Tashaun Gipson Sr.
9 - Pat O'Donnell (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
7 - Talanoa Hufanga
6 - Jacob Cowing, Ke'Shawn Vaughn
5 - Deebo Samuel, Deommodore Lenoir, Fred Warner, Jake Moody (K), Maliek Collins
4 - Evan Anderson, Jordan Elliott, Yetur Gross-Matos
3 - Ji'Ayir Brown
2 - Aaron Banks, Colton McKivitz, Dominick Puni, Jaylon Moore, Nick Zakelj, Spencer Burford
1 - Dre Greenlaw, Leonard Floyd, Nick Bosa, Renardo Green, Sam Okuayinonu
