49ers' Top 5 Most Valuable Players in 2025

A look at the key contributors who stepped up for San Francisco during an injury-plagued season.

Feb. 26, 2026 at 11:39am by Ben Kaplan

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The San Francisco 49ers had several players step up in 2025 despite dealing with a number of injuries throughout the year. This article breaks down the team's five most valuable players, including Christian McCaffrey, Brock Purdy, Trent Williams, Upton Stout, and Eddy Piniero.

Why it matters

The 49ers were able to remain competitive in 2025 thanks to the strong performances of their top players, even as the team dealt with key injuries. Understanding who the most valuable contributors were provides insight into the team's strengths and areas for improvement heading into the next season.

The details

Christian McCaffrey was the 49ers' workhorse, rushing for over 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns while also catching 102 passes for 924 yards and 7 scores. Quarterback Brock Purdy stepped up after a shaky start, leading the team to a 7-2 record as a starter and throwing 20 touchdowns. Veteran left tackle Trent Williams continued to anchor the offensive line, while rookie cornerback Upton Stout emerged as a key contributor in the secondary. Kicker Eddy Piniero was perfect on all but one of his field goal attempts, proving crucial in close games.

  • The 49ers' 2025 regular season took place from September 2025 to January 2026.

The players

Christian McCaffrey

A versatile running back who was fourth in MVP voting and won Comeback Player of the Year after totaling over 2,000 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns.

Brock Purdy

The 49ers' starting quarterback for most of the season, he went 7-2 as a starter and threw for 2,167 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

Trent Williams

The veteran left tackle and anchor of the 49ers' offensive line, he continued to play at a high level despite heading into his age-38 season.

Upton Stout

A rookie cornerback who had a learning curve early on but emerged as a key contributor in the 49ers' secondary over the second half of the season.

Eddy Piniero

The 49ers' kicker who was nearly perfect on field goals, connecting on 28 of 29 attempts including a 59-yarder, and proving crucial in close games.

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The takeaway

The 49ers were able to remain competitive in 2025 despite key injuries thanks to strong performances from their top players, including McCaffrey, Purdy, Williams, Stout, and Piniero. These contributors will be crucial to the team's success going forward as they look to build on this season's performance.