Analytics show Brock Purdy had more help last year than any other QB

Of the six offensive categories PFF looked at — pass protection, receiver corps, snaps with three or more open receivers, EPA on screen plays, EPA on run-pass options and EPA on play-action passes — the 49ers ranked first in four of them.

San Francisco had the highest-rated receiver group (91.0) of any team in the NFL — and well ahead of the next-closest team, the Miami Dolphins (85.7). Aiyuk ranked seventh in the league in receiving yards (1,342), while Samuel was 36th with 892. (He missed time due to injury.) Although, his 8.7 yards after the catch per reception was best among all WRs with 50 or more targets.

“The 49ers totaled four players who saw 100 or more targets in the regular season and playoffs,” McGuinness wrote. “All four earned an 85.0-plus PFF receiving grade.”

San Francisco also led the league in EPA (expected points added) on screen passes (0.357), RPOs (0.498) and play-action (0.416.) McGuiness mentioned 49ers QBs completed 104 of 140 passes for 1,348 yards, 13 touchdowns and only two interceptions while using play-action last year.

“With an EPA per-play-average more than three times higher than the next-best team, the 49ers screen game was in a class all by itself,” McGuiness added. “...The 49ers generated a positive EPA on a whopping 88.2% of their RPO passes in 2023 including the playoffs.”

Purdy flourished in both situations. He had a 77.3 completion percentage with 1,284 yards, 12 touchdowns and two interceptions when using play action last season. He was even more efficient using screen passes, throwing for 475 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions with a completion percentage of 88.3.