Longtime CBS Sports scribe Pete Prisco released his Top 100 NFL Players of 2026 list, which he shares annually. Six San Francisco 49ers earned spots on the ranking. Leading the way for the 49ers is star linebacker Fred Warner, who continues to be regarded as one of the NFL's elite players.

Warner's placement reflects the tremendous respect he has earned throughout the league. Despite appearing in only six games last season before suffering a dislocated and fractured right ankle, the All-Pro linebacker remains widely viewed as the gold standard at his position.


Notably, Warner climbed three spots from last year's ranking, signaling confidence that he'll return to form after his injury-shortened 2025 campaign. In fact, four of the six 49ers on Prisco's list improved their standing from a year ago. Only tight end George Kittle and defensive end Nick Bosa saw their rankings decline.

Below is a breakdown of the six 49ers players who made Prisco's Top 100, along with their rankings and Prisco's analysis.

LB Fred Warner


Ranking: 16
Last season's ranking: 19

Prisco: "He's among the many 49ers coming off major injuries. But when he's on the field, there is no better off-ball linebacker in the league. He can do it all."

RB Christian McCaffrey


Ranking: 19
Last season's ranking: 41


Prisco: "Coming off an injury-shortened 2024 season, he responded by rushing for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns while catching 102 passes with seven touchdown receptions. At times, he was basically the entire 49ers offense because of injuries to other players."

LT Trent Williams


Ranking: 25
Last season's ranking: 34

Prisco: "He isn't the same player he was earlier in his career, but he's still damn good at 37. The 49ers are a different offense when he isn't on the field. He's on his way to Canton."

TE George Kittle


Ranking: 49
Last season's ranking: 25

Prisco: "He was slowed by injuries last year and is coming off a major one in a torn Achilles. But when he's on the field, he's as complete a tight end as there is in the game."


QB Brock Purdy


Ranking: 75
Last season's ranking: Not ranked

Prisco: "Injuries limited him to nine games last season. But in those nine games, he threw 20 touchdown passes, the same number he threw in 15 games in 2024."

DE Nick Bosa


Ranking: 94
Last season's ranking: 35

Prisco: "He is coming off a torn ACL suffered in Week 3 last season. But the team expects him back close to 100% for the start of camp. He hasn't had double-digit sacks since 2023 because he has missed so much time."

Follow us on: X, Facebook, Threads, Instagram

Nobody's perfect. Did you find a mistake in this article? Report it.

Read Original Article
Visit 49ers Webzone

More San Francisco 49ers News