It’s pretty clear who the 49ers’ team MVP is through four weeks. An argument for anyone other than running back Christian McCaffrey would require bent logic and mental gymnastics that we’re neither capable nor willing to participate in.
The question heading into Week 5 is whether anyone on the 49ers’ extremely talented roster can even catch McCaffrey.
Buy 49ers TicketsHere’s what our 49ers team MVP rankings look like through four weeks, with a clear-cut No. 1, and then a handful of others who are playing well and making an impact on winning:
1
RB Christian McCaffrey
He’s an easy frontrunner here, especially considering how good his case is to be the MVP of the NFL through four weeks. The 49ers have 14 touchdowns and McCaffrey has scored half of them. He’s also leading the team (and league) in yards from scrimmage.
2
QB Brock Purdy
Purdy is good. This isn’t a mirage anymore. He’s operating the 49ers’ offense at a higher level than any QB they’ve had under head coach Kyle Shanahan, and he’s doing enough outside the scheme to give the belief that the 49ers can win a Super Bowl with him.
3
DE Nick Bosa
It’s Week 4 and already unclear to anyone who didn’t know that Bosa missed the entire offseason program and preseason. He’s only turned in 1.0 sacks, but he leads the club with 20 total pressures and nine QB hits (nobody else on the team has more than three). On top of being a tremendous pass rusher, he’s also one of the team’s best run defenders.
4
DT Javon Hargrave
The 49ers pass rush has been its defining defensive trait in 2023, and that pass rush can’t be properly exalted without mentioning Hargrave. His impact has been immense and immediate. Hargrave has 17 pressures (second-most on the team), and his 3.0 sacks are tied for the team lead with Drake Jackson who hasn’t had a sack since the season opener. There’s a ripple effect with Hargrave too where the pass rush around him becomes more productive thanks to his disruptive presence inside.
5
WR Brandon Aiyuk
Aiyuk’s predicted ascension in his fourth season is coming true. Despite missing Week 3, Aiyuk is tied with Deebo Samuel for the team lead in receptions, and he leads the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Their offense looked a little disjointed against the Giants for a few reasons, but it was clear the downfield element of their passing attack was missing without No. 11 on the field.
6
P Mitch Wishnowsky
We’ve got to give the punter some shine so we’re tacking him onto the end of the MVP ladder. Wishnowsky has been superb this season. He’s punted only 11 times, but a whopping eight of those punts have been downed inside the 20. That means a league-best 72.7 percent of his punts have pinned opponents deep in their own territory. Returners have also managed just 16 yards on Wishnowsky’s kicks – the third fewest among punters who have played in four games. There’s not a punter playing at a higher level right now than Wishnowsky, and winning the field position battle is going to be important when the 49ers’ competition gets tougher.
