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2021 NFL Power Rankings: San Francisco 49ers

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the San Francisco 49ers rank in terms of average, best and worst:

Below you will find a Week 8 roundup for the 49ers in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 20

Prediction we missed: Brandon Aiyuk's breakout season.

Through the first couple of weeks of training camp, Aiyuk looked poised to become the team's top wideout and emerge as one of the league's best young receivers. But Aiyuk suffered a hamstring injury that slowed him late in camp and carried into Week 1, and he still hasn't had a prominent role in the offense. Through six games, he's fifth on the team in receptions (9) and receiving yards (96) and has been targeted just 16 times. There is a breakout receiver on the 49ers, but it's Deebo Samuel, not Aiyuk. -- Nick Wagoner

NFL.com -- Rank: 19

The Kyle Shanahan Defenders Society is always armed with a good excuse or two, and the miserable conditions at Levi's Stadium on Sunday night qualify as solid cover. But it's results that ultimately matter most, and the 49ers are 2-4 and 4.5 games behind the NFC West-leading Cardinals before Halloween. How does Shanahan fix this mess? It probably starts with a change at quarterback, a position the 2021 version of Jimmy Garoppolo seems unable to play at a satisfactory level. After the 30-18 setback to the Colts, Shanahan said he would "guess" Garoppolo starts in Week 8, but Jimmy G's continued first-string status is now completely tied to the health of Trey Lance, currently rehabbing a sprained knee.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 20

They are limited on offense by their quarterback play, which is why they are 2-4. In a division with two really good teams, their season is teetering on the verge of being done.

USA Today -- Rank: 18

Their bevy of pass interference penalties Sunday night is indicative of carelessness, San Francisco pacing NFL with 81 penalty yards per game.

The Athletic -- Rank: 19

Trick or treat: We thought that the 49ers quarterback situation might be one of the more exciting storylines of the season, but right now, it's just depressing. Kind of like opening up your candy bag and finding nothing but toothbrushes and pennies. Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance have both been injured and neither has played well. It's all just a major bummer.

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