NFL.com’s power rankings have the 49ers as a bottom ten team

Nobody ever wants to hear about power rankings, but, for some reason, we always find ourselves talking about them. Through two weeks of the preseason, NFL.com released their power rankings for the league. Based on how they talk about the San Francisco 49ers on their Good Morning Football show, you’d think they would have had the Niners in the top half of the NFL. That was not the case in these rankings, where the 49ers came in at No. 24.

Author Dan Hanzus focuses on Jimmy Garoppolo’s Monday Night performance against the Denver Broncos:

Jimmy Garoppolo made his return to game action against the Broncos on Monday night and ... well ... let’s just say there’s room for improvement. The quarterback, whose 2018 season was cut short by a torn ACL last September, had what ESPN analyst Rex Ryan termed a “deer in the headlights” look across three series. Garoppolo finished 1-for-6 with an interception and zero yards passing. Zero. His numbers would have been worse if not for a dropped would-be pick six. This performance comes after Jimmy G threw interceptions on five consecutive passes in practice last week. Time to panic? Nah, rust is expected for the former Tom Brady understudy. But it’s pretty wild how much expectations have shifted for Garoppolo since this time last year.

If you look at the team below the Niners, the Oakland Raiders, the two teams rosters aren’t even comparable. Here’s what the Raiders defensive line will look like on third downs: Clelin Ferrell, Arden Key, Maurice Hurst, Justin Ellis. The three teams above the 49ers are the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, and the Broncos.

I get how last year went, and recency bias might sway you to believe Garoppolo isn’t the answer, but there is too much talent on this team to be in the 20s. I’d say the Niners belong smack dab in the middle. Average until proven otherwise.