49ers Listed as NFL's Best Skill Position Group in SI Ranking

Mar 24, 2023 at 01:25 PM

Briana McDonald

Digital Media Reporter

Following the first two weeks of the NFL free agency period and with most of the top-available free agents now signed, Sports Illustrated writer Conor Orr asked the question: which team has the best skill-position unit in the NFL?

Orr answered the prompt creating a ranking of the NFL's 15 best skill-position groups and placed the San Francisco 49ers at the top of the list. In Orr's ranking process, the analyst decided the league's best units by considering the players who are the team's biggest contributors outside of the quarterback position.

Here's what Orr had to say about the 49ers offensive weapons:

"I will stand by my thought that this is the greatest collection of skill-position players on one team since the Rams Greatest Show on Turf... Their ability to pulverize defenses by gaining tough yards after the catch, along with their positional versatility, makes them the most moldable unit of talented players in the league. It certainly helps that these pieces are under the thumb of Kyle Shanahan. San Francisco's offense has been elevating its quarterback play, and not the other way around, for a few years now."

The Philadelphia Eagles came in at No. 2 on the Sports Illustrated ranking. Click here to see the full list.

1 / 40

TE George Kittle

Ben Warden/49ers

2 / 40

WR Deebo Samuel

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

3 / 40

S Talanoa Hufanga

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

4 / 40

TE George Kittle

Austin Ginn/49ers

5 / 40

RB Christian McCaffrey

Kym Fortino/49ers

6 / 40

WR Ray-Ray McCloud III

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

7 / 40

WR Jauan Jennings

Kym Fortino/49ers

8 / 40

TE George Kittle

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

9 / 40

RB Elijah Mitchell

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

10 / 40

QB Brock Purdy

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

11 / 40

RB Christian McCaffrey

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

12 / 40

RB Jordan Mason

Austin Ginn/49ers

13 / 40

TE George Kittle

Austin Ginn/49ers

14 / 40

RB Christian McCaffrey

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

15 / 40

WR Ray-Ray McCloud III

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

16 / 40

RB Christian McCaffrey

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

17 / 40

RB Jordan Mason, QB Brock Purdy

Austin Ginn/49ers

18 / 40

WR Deebo Samuel

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

19 / 40

RB Christian McCaffrey

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

20 / 40

S Talanoa Hufanga

Kym Fortino/49ers

21 / 40

RB Christian McCaffrey

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

22 / 40

OL Aaron Banks, TE George Kittle

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

23 / 40

WR Ray-Ray McCloud III

Kym Fortino/49ers

24 / 40

LB Dre Greenlaw

Gerome Wright/49ers

25 / 40

FB Kyle Juszczyk

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

26 / 40

RB Christian McCaffrey

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

27 / 40

S Talanoa Hufanga

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

28 / 40

RB Jordan Mason, TE George Kittle

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

29 / 40

QB Brock Purdy

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

30 / 40

WR Ray-Ray McCloud III

Hayley Hom/49ers

31 / 40

RB Christian McCaffrey

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

32 / 40

RB Jordan Mason

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

33 / 40

WR Jauan Jennings

Kym Fortino/49ers

34 / 40

RB Christian McCaffrey

Kym Fortino/49ers

35 / 40

FB Kyle Juszczyk

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

36 / 40

TE George Kittle

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

37 / 40

RB Elijah Mitchell

Ben Warden/49ers

38 / 40

RB Christian McCaffrey

Kym Fortino/49ers

39 / 40

TE George Kittle

Terrell Lloyd/49ers

40 / 40

RB Christian McCaffrey

Austin Ginn/49ers

Advertising

This Ad will close in 3

Related Content

news

Four 49ers Land on PFF's Top 100 Players Set to Enter Free Agency

Charvarius Ward, Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga and Aaron Banks have landed on Pro Football Focus' list of top 100 players set to enter free agency.

news

Defensive Lineman Yetur Gross-Matos Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week

San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos earned the NFC Defensive Player of the Week following a three-sack performance versus the Chicago Bears in Week 14.

news

George Kittle Nominated for FedEx Air & Ground Player of Week 14

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle was nominated for the FedEx Air & Ground Player of Week 14 Award after racking up six catches for 151 yards against the Chicago Bears.

news

Brock Purdy Named NFL Slimetime 'NVP' for Week 10 Performance vs. Bucs

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was announced as NFL Slimetime's "Nickelodeon Valuable Player" for Week 10.

news

Power Rankings: Where the 49ers Stand Headed Into Week 11

Find out where the San Francisco 49ers landed in the latest set of NFL power rankings according to several national outlets following their 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

news

Rookie OL Dominick Puni Tops 49ers PFF Grades in Week 10

San Francisco 49ers rookie offensive lineman Dominick Puni earned the highest Pro Football Focus weekly grade from the team's Week 10 matchup vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

news

George Kittle Nominated for FedEx Air & Ground Player of Week 8

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle was nominated for the FedEx Air & Ground Player of Week 8 Award after amassing six catches for 128 yards and a touchdown versus the Dallas Cowboys.

news

Power Rankings: Where the 49ers Stand Headed Into Week 7

Find out where the San Francisco 49ers landed in the latest set of NFL power rankings according to several national outlets following their 36-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on "Thursday Night Football."

news

49ers Begin Kicker Search as Jake Moody Battles High Ankle Sprain

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan delivered the latest injury updates following the team's 24-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

news

Power Rankings: Where the 49ers Stand Headed Into Week 5

Following their 30-13 victory over the New England Patriots, the San Francisco 49ers are amongst the top ten ranked teams in the league according to several national outlets.

news

Warner and More Day-to-Day With Injuries, Practice Window Update on Pearsall

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan delivered the latest injury updates following the team's 30-13 victory over the New England Patriots.

news

Jordan Mason Nominated for FedEx Air & Ground Player of Week 4

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason was nominated for the FedEx Air & Ground Player of Week 4 Award after logging 24 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown versus the New England Patriots.