49ers exit bye week in top 10 of FanSided NFL power rankings

The 49ers are still in the top 10 of FanSided’s NFL power rankings despite having a .500 record and coming off a bye last weekend.

2022 has been a weird season for the NFL.

The Green Bay Packers are terrible, the Philadelphia Eagles are undefeated, and the NFC East might actually be the best division in football. The New York Jets are actually very good, and the Indianapolis Colts just named an interim head coach who never had any relevant experience of that kind at any level aside from high school.

So, perhaps we shouldn’t be too concerned about the San Francisco 49ers, 4-4 after the first half of the year entering their Week 9 bye, going into the second half of the season in the top 10 of FanSided’s NFL power rankings.

Yet here we are.

49ers stay in top 10 of FanSided NFL power rankings for Week 10

OK, so FanSided NFL insider Matt Verderame had the Niners at No. 9 in his weekly NFL power rankings at the conclusion of Week 9, which coincided with San Francisco’s convincing road victory over the Los Angeles Rams in which newly acquired All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey recorded the holy trifecta of touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving and one passing).

For Verderame’s Week 10 power rankings, the 49ers are staying put at No. 9, which is often the case during a bye week anyway.

And with the Niners facing off against LA’s other team, the 5-3-1 Los Angeles Chargers who can’t stop the run at all, Verderame is figuring McCaffrey and San Francisco’s ground attack will have a field day:

"Coming off the bye, San Francisco hosts the Chargers on Sunday night. The Niners might rush for 450 yards."

It wouldn’t be surprising, especially when considering the rushing totals the Bolts have allowed as of late:

Related Story: Second-half surge fully expected for 49ers after bye week

For what it’s worth, FanSided places the Chargers at No. 14 in their Week 10 NFL power rankings.

Currently, according to the oddsmakers over at WynnBET, the 49ers are seven-point home favorites for Sunday Night Football. And if the Niners wind up winning that game in a decisive fashion, it wouldn’t be shocking whatsoever for Verderame to get San Francisco even higher in power rankings heading into Week 11.