NFL power rankings are fun at the outset of a regular season.
No meaningful games have been played yet, so experts are basing their opinions on rosters, quarterbacks, head coaches and all kinds of other "in the past" information to best come up with perspectives.
And, yes. Season-opening power rankings can be wholly different and inaccurate, subject to all kinds of change within mere weeks of Week 1 concluding.
The San Francisco 49ers, meanwhile, have been used to sitting at the very top of NFL power rankings in recent years, at least to open up the season. That's what three consecutive NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl appearance between the 2021 and 2023 seasons will do.
However, a 6-11 finish in 2024 put a serious speedbump in that trend, although plenty of pundits feel as if the Niners maintain some sort of prowess to kick off 2025.
But, what about now with the regular-season opener just days away? Where does San Francisco sit.
Combing through a slew of NFL power rankings, let's asses where the experts view the 49ers and what trends exist to see if there are any commonalities.
NFL power rankings Week 1, 49ers roundup from across the NFL
Eric Edholm, NFL.com: No. 15
"I’ve felt all summer that San Francisco is due for a positive regression-to-the-mean season, especially with a favorable schedule. But the Niners aren’t as talented or as deep as they were two years ago, and the receiver situation has me worried. Brandon Aiyuk starts the season on the PUP list, Demarcus Robinson is suspended three games and who knows what to expect from Jauan Jennings?"
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: No. 9
"Don't bury them just yet. They still have stars on the roster and that matters. Health wrecked their season in 2024. They will bounce back and win the NFC West."
Mike Clay, ESPN: No. 19
"As usual, Kyle Shanahan's offense figures to be very good, but injuries at wide receiver are already piling up -- the 49ers aren't sure if Jauan Jennings will be available for Week 1. The big red flag here is a defense that had many notable departures, leaving the 49ers with big concerns at defensive tackle, corner and safety. Edge rusher Nick Bosa and new coordinator Robert Saleh will have their work cut out for them."
Mike Florio, NBC Sports: No. 14
"Brock Purdy will get an immediate chance to earn his money."
Yes, it’s that time. Please let us know how wrong we are and why. pic.twitter.com/PtQ2ugTPba
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 2, 2025
Cody Williams, FanSided: No. 13
"Despite my ever-persistent skepticism about Brock Purdy, he's paid and this 49ers team is going through some changes as a result. The simple fact of the matter is that San Francisco has had to sacrifice some pieces to pay their quarterback. Yet, Christian McCaffrey should be healthy, the wide receiver corps is deep enough to start the year without Brandon Aiyuk, and the defense should still be quite good. It's not a certainty that the Niners are back in contention, but it feels safe to say they're closer to that point than not."
1 common them for 49ers amid Week 1 NFL power rankings
Ranging from No. 9 to No. 19 in the included power rankings here, the Niners' landing spots are pretty varied.
However, there's one easy-to-see conclusion about why San Francisco falls in this range.
Uncertainty.
Pundits are wholly uncertain about what to expect from a 49ers team that underwent serious changes during the offseason. It wasn't an all-out rebuild, perhaps a recalibration. Bay Area fans probably grew to know it as "getting younger and cheaper," yet that means a larger reliance on rookies and second-year pros with whom the rest of the NFL world aren't exactly familiar.
Simply put, Florio, Clay and Williams probably aren't too dialed in on how big a storyline first-year defensive back Upton Stout was during training camp.
Alas, though, the key takeaway is the Niners have plenty of uncertainty surrounding them entering 2025. As both Florio and Williams highlighted, it's Purdy's team now, and so much of San Francisco's success (or failure) will fall upon his shoulders.
If it's success, expect the 49ers to rise up in power rankings. If it's failure, they'll trend in the downward direction. It's that simple.