Now that the NFL season has come to a close, Pro Football Focus has comprised a list of the Top 101 players from the 2018 season. George Kittle and Joe Staley's stellar seasons earned them recognition from the football analytics site. The list identifies the best single-season performances from the 2018 season regardless of position, and credits the best players from the year.
Here's a look at where both members of the San Francisco 49ers landed on PFF's annual honor.
George Kittle - No. 13 of 101
Kittle made his first Top 101 appearance and was the highest ranked tight end on the list, 10 spots ahead of the next TE (Travis Kelce No. 23). During his breakout campaign, Kittle broke the NFL single-season receiving record for a tight end (1,377) as well as San Francisco's single-season receptions record by a tight end (88). Only seven other NFL players totaled more receiving yards than Kittle in 2018, and they were all wide receivers.
According to Jeff Deeney of PFF, Kittle is the highest-ranked member of the 49ers to make the Top 101 list since Patrick Willis in 2012 (No. 10) and Justin Smith in 2011 (No. 2).
Here's what PFF had to say about Kittle's stellar 2018 season:
No player in the PFF era has ever racked up more yards after the catch in a single season than Kittle did in 2018. Not just tight ends – everyone. His 873 yards after the catch were also 200 more than we've ever seen from a tight end before. Those numbers are even more impressive when you consider that his targets came from backup quarterbacks all season.
Joe Staley - No. 96 of 101
The 49ers longest tenured veteran made his sixth appearance on PFF's annual list. Staley continues to perform at the top of his position. During his 12-year career, Staley has twice been named as PFF's highest-graded left tackle.
Here's what PFF had to say about the 49ers veteran tackle:
Staley's consistency remained intact in 2018 by finishing in the top-10 in overall grade among offensive tackles at 82.2. The 12th-year veteran allowed just 25 total pressures in 609 pass-block snaps this season with only four resulting in a sack.
