The 49ers’ 7-1 start has them lined up for a major awards haul if the season keeps going the way it has been. Bill Barnwell of ESPN laid out his midseason awards, and San Francisco has a real shot to end up with five different honors when everything is decided.
At the center of it all is Brock Purdy, who Barnwell slotted second behind Joe Burrow in the MVP race. Purdy is going to stay in the conversation all the way to the finish, and the case is pretty clear: he keeps producing while working with a new receiver every week. Even with that constant shuffle, he’s still winning, and this looks like his best chance to take home MVP since 2023.
Kyle Shanahan is in position for something he has never won before. Barnwell has him leading the Coach of the Year race, ahead of Ben Johnson and Liam Coen.
Shanahan has done it while integrating new receivers, absorbing the loss of Nick Bosa, handling a trip to Australia and still building a big cushion in what is known as the toughest division in the game. If there was ever a year for him to finally get it, this is it.
Fred Warner is right in the thick of the Defensive Player of the Year race, too. Barnwell put him second behind Will Anderson and just ahead of Aidan Hutchinson.
Warner keeps stacking up impact plays and remains the best player at his position, even if the award often ends up leaning toward sack totals. Barnwell noted that many would argue Myles Garrett is better than Anderson and Hutchinson, but injury will keep Garrett from winning it.
Warner, though, is the kind of player who changes games without needing the stat sheet to explain it.
On the offensive line side, Trent Williams was Barnwell’s choice as the best lineman so far. He ranked Williams ahead of Amarius Mims and Zach Frazier, and the praise fits the way Williams has been viewed for years: he is the reason this award even feels necessary. He still doesn’t get enough recognition for how dominant he is at his spot, but that could change if he finishes the year the way he has started it.
The 49ers also have two players sitting behind Patrick Mahomes in Barnwell’s comeback discussion. Mahomes, the three-time Super Bowl champion, is going to be tough to beat. But both players have returned from season-ending injuries and are producing at a level that would have been hard to predict.
Warner’s case is a little more expected because of how dominant he is. George Kittle’s return, though, has been especially notable after an injury later in the year and a tougher road back. Barnwell called his comeback remarkable, and that’s exactly the kind of season that has San Francisco in line to dominate awards season if the rest of the year follows the same script.
In Other News...
49ers Get Deebo Boost But A Bigger Cowboys Concern Is Growing
San Franciscos offense is starting to look a little more like itself with Deebo Samuel moving closer to a return from the hamstring injury that has kept him out. For a unit that has been trying to regain rhythm, getting Samuel back in the mix would be a meaningful lift, especially with the 49ers trying to keep momentum headed into a matchup that has already started to feel important.
The bigger concern, though, is on the other side of the ball, where the secondary is suddenly dealing with a crowded injury report. Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green both missed practice, several other defensive backs were limited, and even a few key veterans on offense and defense, including Trent Williams and Dre Greenlaw, were working through new issues of their own. For a team that has leaned on depth and versatility all season, the timing of those absences is less than ideal. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Passing Game Just Got A Big Week 10 Opening
A potentially important Week 10 break is starting to tilt the 49ers way, with Dallas cornerback Joey Porter Jr. missing practice because of a foot injury and still listed as questionable for Sunday. For a San Francisco passing game already dealing with its own wide receiver injuries, any edge matters, and the possibility of facing a shorthanded secondary only adds to the intrigue around Brock Purdys return to the lineup.
Porter also pushed back on the contract chatter around his absence, saying the injury is the only reason he is out. From the 49ers perspective, the bigger picture is simple: Purdy is expected to play, and Dallas has shown defensive vulnerability against the run, which could force the Cowboys to pick their poison if their top corner cannot go. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Purdy Explained The Thumbs-Down That Added Edge To A Rout
The 49ers kept rolling with a 38-17 win over the Raiders, a result that pushed them to 7-1 and into a tie for the best record in the NFL. Brock Purdy was at the center of it again, throwing for 232 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score, and the offense looked every bit like a unit that has settled into a rhythm behind a defense that has been doing its part all season.
Purdy also added a little extra edge to the afternoon with a thumbs-down gesture he later framed as playful rivalry banter, the kind of small flash that can turn a comfortable win into a talking point. For San Francisco, the bigger picture is even more important now, with Dallas up next and the 49ers carrying both momentum and a defense that has been holding opponents in check while the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]