The San Francisco 49ers remain one of three unbeaten teams after four weeks. Their schedule has been formidable, but also favorable. They opened the season overseas with a dominant win over a prohibitive Super Bowl favorite, then won three straight at home, culminating in a win against a reputable defense in Denver.
The competition will ramp up as the season progresses, but it hasn't been without its share of adversity, with 16 players currently on injured reserve.
Many players get credit for the team's success, but in the NFL, perception isn't always reality. Some players are on the mend from injury, and weaknesses remain, but in the short term, the 49ers have met every challenge.
Here are my grades by position at the 2026 season quarter point.
Quarterback: A+
Bijan Robinson and Kenneth Walker have been running wild, and Josh Allen has played great, but for early MVP frontrunners, Brock Purdy should top the list. Currently leading the league in touchdown passes and passer rating, while among the top 10 in other statistical categories.
Beyond his hot start, Purdy's ability to escape the pocket to run, averaging six yards per carry, is an underrated part of his game. Add the league's best 3rd-down efficiency rate to extend drives, and Purdy has been on fire. He is one of the main reasons the 49ers are 4-0.
Running Back: B
Christian McCaffrey hasn't been spectacular, but solid enough to maintain the bulk of the carries, at four and a half yards per rush on 50 attempts.
Kaelon Black has had just seven carries since Week 1, but this gets bumped half a grade because of Brock Purdy and Deebo Samuel's yardage. The 49ers are currently sixth in the league in rushing.
Wide Receiver: Incomplete
Despite his rib injury, Mike Evans's stats don't look impressive, but his presence as a big, physical receiver has been invaluable for Brock Purdy. Deebo Samuel has been effective enough in limited touches. Still, it's hard to give this group an honest assessment with Demarcus Robinson, De'Zhaun Stribling, and Ricky Pearsall all currently on injured reserve. Christian Kirk is expected back soon.
TIght End: B
Losing Jake Tonges for the season in the opener hurts depth, and Luke Farrell and Brayden Willis have minimal playing time. George Kittle has come on in recent weeks, with four touchdowns in the last three weeks. As reliable a blocker as he is, Kittle's explosiveness appears to have returned, as shown by his long score last week.
Offensive Line: A+
The most maligned position group coming into the season, given the age of the left tackle and center and the uncertainty at left guard, has been spectacular. Brock Purdy escaping the pocket to run has helped, but as a group, they have committed just two penalties and allowed no sacks. Pass blocking has been great, and while the individual rushing numbers aren't substantial, the 49ers are sixth in the NFL in rushing—a remarkable start from this unit.
Defensive Line: C
This group and the wide receivers are struggling with injuries, but the D-line gets some credit for ranking ninth in the league in rushing defense and not having allowed a 100-yard rusher. And while they're consistent with quarterback pressures, just six sacks is bottom-tier.
This group's upside will likely come after the bye, once Sam Okauyinonu, CJ West, and James Thompson Jr. (replacing Alfred Collins) are all slated to return. At the ends, Mykel Williams is back this week, Keion White has made his presence known, and Nick Bosa is close. The sack numbers should gradually increase.
Linebackers: B+
Garret Wallow and Luke Gifford provide insurance at linebacker, both serving mainly as special teams contributors, while rookie Jaden Dugger gets about 37% of the defensive snaps. The depth is serviceable, but the consistency and reputations of Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner make this group go—74 combined tackles and three forced fumbles, to be exact. From the line of scrimmage to the intermediate area of 10 yards or less, both wreak havoc.
Secondary: B-
Marques Sigle's ankle injury will keep him out a few weeks, which elevates Malik Mustapha to start at safety. Upton Stout, Ji'Yair Brown, and Deommodore Lenoir play an aggressive style collectively, with room for improvement in coverage, run support, and tackling.
That said, they have allowed the fewest passing touchdowns, the second-fewest explosive plays, and limited the opposition to six yards per attempt. The glaring number is just one interception. Overall, the secondary is opportunistic, just not enough of a playmaker as a whole, but dependable so far.
Kicking/Special Teams: B-
Corliss Waitman is top 10 in net average yardage per punt, as is kickoff return average, while punt return duties have amounted to little. In the kicking game, Eddy Piñeiro has been steady since last season, but so far this year, four combined missed field goal attempts and PATs. Siran Neal's effort last week against Denver bumps this grade up a half
More info on: Kaelon Black, Nick Bosa, Alfred Collins, Jaden Dugger, Mike Evans, Luke Farrell, Luke Gifford, Dre Greenlaw, Christian Kirk, George Kittle, Deommodore Lenoir, Christian McCaffrey, Malik Mustapha, Siran Neal, Ricky Pearsall, Brock Purdy, Demarcus Robinson, Deebo Samuel, Marques Sigle, Upton Stout, De'Zhaun Stribling, James Thompson, Jake Tonges, Corliss Waitman, Garret Wallow, Fred Warner, Keion White, Mykel Williams, Brayden Willis
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