Niner Noise
FanSided

Power ranking 49ers top 10 players halfway through 2019 season

By Peter Panacy

Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers with George Kittle #85 (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers with George Kittle #85 (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MARYLAND – OCTOBER 20: Richard Sherman #25 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on October 20, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – OCTOBER 20: Richard Sherman #25 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on October 20, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

player. 42. . . . Richard Sherman. 7

So much for age catching up with the veteran, cornerback Richard Sherman.

A year ago, Sherman was still effective during his first season with San Francisco, yet was clearly hobbled by the 2017 Achilles injury suffered when he was still with the Seattle Seahawks. Fully healed, Sherman is looking like a shoo-in selection for the Pro Bowl.

Over the 49ers’ first eight games, Sherman finds himself with 29 tackles, which is fourth best on the defense, and the team lead in both interceptions (three) and pass breakups (eight).

It’s looking like Sherman is reverting back to his perennial Pro Bowl form, for sure.

On top of the traditional stats, Sherman is posting a team-leading 84.9 pass-coverage grade, according to Pro Football Focus, which is very good. PFF also ranked Sherman the No. 4 overall corner heading into Week 9’s weekend slate of games.

That’s “elite” status right there.

Sherman’s veteran presence and the notable “playing with a chip on his shoulder” efforts have carried over throughout the rest of the 49ers defense.

And considering how great the Niners have been against the pass, Sherman has to make it onto this list.