49ers vs. Rams PFF grades: Best and worst from the game, plus snap counts

The San Francisco 49ers improved their record to 4-1 after a 26-23 win against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5. Today, Pro Football Focus released its grades and snap counts from the game. Which Niners stood out, and who needs more work?

Highest-graded 49ers: Offense

• Kendrick Bourne, WR, 80.6, 70 snaps
• Brian Robinson, RB, 68.6, 12 snaps
• Christian McCaffrey, RB, 67.8, 76 snaps
• Mac Jones, QB, 66.5, 86 snaps
• Trent Williams, LT, 65.7, 86 snaps

Highest-graded 49ers: Defense

• Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, 89.5, 11 snaps
• Alfred Collins, DT, 85.0, 40 snaps
• Fred Warner, LB, 78.1, 68 snaps
• Ji'Ayir Brown, CB, 68.1, 12 snaps
• Jason Pinnock, FS, 65.7, 68 snaps

Lowest-graded 49ers: Offense

• Connor Colby, LG, 39.2, 86 snaps
• Luke Farrell, TE, 47.5, 38 snaps
• Colton McKivitz, RT, 48.0, 86 snaps
• Skyy Moore, WR, 50.9, 8 snaps
• Dominick Puni, RG, 51.7, 86 snaps

Lowest-graded 49ers: Defense

• Dee Winters, LB, 29.2, 68 snaps
• Jordan Elliott, DT, 29.4, 40 snaps
• CJ West, DT, 29.8, 28 snaps
• Marques Sigle, SS, 33.0, 68 snaps
• Upton Stout, CB, 34.7, 38 snaps

Highest-graded Rams

• Terrance Ferguson, TE, 89.5, 4 snaps
• Poona Ford, DT, 89.2, 43 snaps
• Omar Speights, LB, 81.8, 38 snaps
• Matthew Stafford, QB, 80.6, 68 snaps
• Byron Young, LOLB, 79.5, 76 snaps

Quarterback play

Matthew Stafford was the highest-graded quarterback of the game (80.6), but 49ers signal-caller Mac Jones walked away with the win, completing 33 of his 49 attempts for 342 yards and two touchdowns. He earned a 66.5 offensive grade, the fourth-best mark among his offensive teammates.

Jones now has a 71.1 offensive grade this season, his best since his rookie 2021 campaign (80.0).

Highest marks

Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos tied with Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson for the game's best grade (89.5). However, both played fewer than 12 snaps.

The top grade for a player with significant snaps went to Rams defensive tackle Poona Ford (89.2). For the 49ers, it was rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins (85.0), who played 40 snaps after starter Kalia Davis exited with a broken hand.

Blocking

San Francisco's highest-graded offensive lineman was left tackle Trent Williams, who finished with a 65.7 offensive grade. He surrendered three pressures in 53 pass-blocking snaps but didn't allow a sack.

Center Jake Brendel earned the team's best run-blocking grade (73.6), while running back Christian McCaffrey posted the best pass-blocking grade (81.7). Among offensive linemen, Williams had the top pass-blocking grade at 56.3.

The game's lowest-graded offensive lineman (39.2) was rookie left guard Connor Colby.

In total, the 49ers' offensive line surrendered 16 pressures.

Pressures allowed among O-line:

• LG Connor Colby, RT Colton McKivitz — 4 each
• RG Dominick Puni, LT Trent Williams — 3 each
• C Jake Brendel — 2

Pass Catchers

Running back Christian McCaffrey earned the game's best receiving grade (90.9). He finished with eight catches for 82 yards and a touchdown on nine targets.

The 49ers' highest-graded wide receiver was Kendrick Bourne, who earned an 80.3 receiving grade along with an 80.6 offensive grade. Bourne set a career high with 142 receiving yards on 10 catches. No other 49ers player earned a receiving grade above 62.5.

Rushing

Brian Robinson Jr. was the game's highest-graded running back, earning a 68.4 rushing grade on five carries for 12 yards. Christian McCaffrey led the 49ers with 57 yards on 22 carries but managed only a 51.1 rushing grade.

Pass rush

Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos earned the game's top pass-rush grade (91.4). However, it was defensive end Bryce Huff who led the 49ers with four pressures and recorded the team's only sack.

The game's lowest pass-rush grade went to rookie defensive tackle CJ West (50.3).

Pressures by 49ers defenders:

• DE Bryce Huff — 4
• DT Jordan Elliott, DE Yetur Gross-Matos, DE Sam Okuayinonu — 2 each
• CB Ji'Ayir Brown, DT Alfred Collins, FS Jason Pinnock, CB Upton Stout, DT CJ West, DE Mykel Williams — 1 each

Run defense

Defensive tackle Alfred Collins earned the game's best run-defense grade (92.1). Linebacker Fred Warner also stood out, recording a 90.0 run-defense grade—his third of 85.2 or higher this season.

Warner's 91.3 run-defense, 91.3 coverage, 74.0 tackling, and 93.0 overall defensive grades are all career highs.

The lowest run-defense grade went to defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (29.3).

Pass defense

Cornerback Chase Lucas earned the best coverage grade (66.5) among his 49ers teammates, followed closely by linebacker Fred Warner (65.8).

Linebacker Dee Winters earned a career-low coverage grade of 28.4 against the Rams. His 29.2 overall grade was also the lowest of the game and his worst since Week 15 of the 2023 season (29.0).

Tackling

Cornerback Upton Stout was the 49ers' highest-graded tackler, earning an 81.9 tackling grade. He recorded eight tackles before exiting with an ankle injury.

Defensive end Sam Okuayinonu had the team's lowest tackling grade (29.8).

Missed tackles by 49ers defenders:

• DE Sam Okuayinonu, SS Marques Sigle, LB Fred Warner, LB Dee Winters — 1 each

49ers Week 5 snap counts

Offense
86 - Colton McKivitz (RT), Connor Colby (LG), Dominick Puni (RG), Jake Brendel (C), Mac Jones (QB), Trent Williams (LT)
76 - Christian McCaffrey (RB)
73 - Demarcus Robinson (WR)
70 - Kendrick Bourne (WR)
63 - Jake Tonges (TE)
46 - Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR)
38 - Luke Farrell (TE)
36 - Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
12 - Brian Robinson (RB)
8 - Skyy Moore (WR)
6 - Malik Turner (WR)
2 - Brayden Willis (TE)

Defense
68 - Dee Winters (LB), Deommodore Lenoir (CB), Fred Warner (LB), Jason Pinnock (FS), Marques Sigle (SS), Renardo Green (CB)
51 - Sam Okuayinonu (DE)
47 - Mykel Williams (DE)
40 - Alfred Collins (DT), Bryce Huff (DE), Jordan Elliott (DT)
38 - Upton Stout (CB)
28 - CJ West (DT)
18 - Chase Lucas (CB)
12 - Ji'Ayir Brown (CB)
11 - Yetur Gross-Matos (DE)
8 - Trevis Gipson (DE)
7 - Kalia Davis (DT)

Special Teams
23 - Luke Gifford, Siran Neal
22 - Curtis Robinson
17 - Isaac Guerendo, Tatum Bethune
16 - Darrell Luter Jr., Jake Tonges
13 - Brayden Willis, Ji'Ayir Brown
12 - Chase Lucas, Eddy Pineiro (K), Luke Farrell
10 - Jon Weeks (LS), Marques Sigle, Thomas Morstead (P)
8 - Skyy Moore
7 - Malik Turner
6 - Alfred Collins, Austen Pleasants, CJ West, Colton McKivitz, Connor Colby, Dominick Puni, Drew Moss, Fred Warner, Matt Hennessy, Mykel Williams, Trevis Gipson
5 - Jordan Elliott
4 - Kyle Juszczyk
1 - Dee Winters, Renardo Green, Sam Okuayinonu