Week 4 power rankings roundup: 49ers rise after 3-0 start
It's been quite the season for the San Francicisco 49ers through the first three weeks. Despite a litany of injuries on both sides of the ball, Kyle Shanahan's squad is 3-0 and atop the NFC West. Coaching has been a huge part of it, but the play of quarterback Brock Purdy has also carried the 49ers on sheer force of will despite issues on both offense and defense.
After three big wins, national media outlets are ranking the 49ers highly heading into a Week 4 showdown with the Denver Broncos. Seven of the eight power rankings looked at had the 49ers in the top five, while most had San Francicisco as a top-two team.
Here's a roundup of the 49ers' power ranking situations heading into Week 4.
At 3-0, they have a case of their own to be No. 1, though they had a lot more trouble handling Arizona than Seattle did. The bigger issue is the latest wave of injuries washing over the Niners, wideout an extreme area of concern β especially if WR Mike Evans' rib issue lingers into Week 4.
Brock Purdy for MVP. Sounds crazy? Look at his numbers. He's playing out of his mind.
Niners fans have been trying to tell us for a long time Brock Purdy is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Frankly, theyβve been obnoxious about it at times. Even worse? Theyβre right. Purdy has nine touchdowns and just one interception and is third in the league in yards per completion (13.2) and off-target percentage (4.8). Purdy has won 10 of his last 12 starts, with the only two losses coming to the Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks.
Under normal circumstances, it would not be a surprise to see [George] Kittle as the TE4 in fantasy. But given that he tore his right Achilles on Jan. 11 and missed all of training camp, that he returned in Week 1 close to his usual self is a testament to his passion for the game. And the Niners have needed every bit of his production to help weather the storm of injuries elsewhere. Kittle ranks fifth among all tight ends in receiving yards (174), 11th in receptions (12) and tied for first in touchdowns (three).
The 49ers move up but the injuries are alarming. They lost defensive end Nick Bosa in practice during the week and then receiver Mike Evans and offensive tackle Trent Williams during the game, though it sounds like neither one of those injuries is serious. The 49ers won't get to play the Dolphins and Cardinals every week.
Or maybe everything will be just fine if Brock Purdy avoids the 49ers' weird injury bug. Purdy is playing excellent football, leading the NFL with nine touchdown passes and a sparkling 133.1 passer rating. It's a remarkable run he's on and the main reason the 49ers are 3-0 and second in the power rankings.
A convincing win over the Cardinals was bittersweet as it exposed what seems to be the redline of San Franciscoβs depth. Like last year, there is only so far this team can go without its best playersβor even enough players. Still, Brock Purdy with an early throw of the year candidate.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan might be a sorcerer.
It seemingly doesn't matter how many players get hurt in San Francisco. The team just keeps winning. Sunday against the Redbirds, the Niners ended the game short their best edge-rusher in Nick Bosa and watched top wideout Mike Evans get carted off the field with a rib injury.
Actually, while Shanahan deserves a ton of credit for coaching up his guys, we need to give Brock Purdy his flowers as one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Purdy continued his stellar start to the seasonβ297 passing yards, four touchdowns and a passer rating north of 130.
"Mr. Irrelevant" is anything but. Per ESPN, Purdy tied Steve Young's 49ers team record for most touchdown passes in the first three games of a season. The Niners haven't scored this many points in their first three games since 1998.
With Young and some guy named Jerry Rice.
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