Is Brock Purdy the 49ers Undeniable Starting Quarterback?
Despite speculation surrounding the San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback situation, there is ample evidence to suggest that Brock Purdy will remain the starting quarterback for the team. As long as he remains healthy, Purdy is the preferred choice over Trey Lance. Lance has yet to demonstrate the ability to run the West Coast offense effectively.
This article will dive into Purdy’s impressive performance during the last stretch of games. It will highlight his achievements and make the case for his continued role as the 49ers’ starting quarterback.
Purdy’s Consistent Performances
Over the course of six games, Purdy has consistently proven himself as a strong and reliable starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. Analyzing his 2022 Fantasy Points (FP) per game from Week 13 to Week 18, Purdy’s performance remained steadily in the top tier of quarterbacks.
During this six-game period, Purdy threw for a total of 1,208 yards with a 68.0-percent completion rate, averaging 201.3 yards per game. He also threw 13 touchdown passes and only 4 interceptions. Purdy’s total passer rating was 102.2.
Looking at his weekly statistics, Purdy ranked No. 18 in Fantasy Points with 15.3 in Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins. In this game, Purdy threw for 210 yards, completed 67.6-percent of his passes, and scored two touchdowns while only throwing one interception. He then jumped to No. 8 in Week 14 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Against Tampa Bay, Burdy put up 21.7 Fantasy Points and 185 total yards, a 76.2-percent completion rate, and two touchdowns. In Week 15, he ranked No. 14 with 16.5 FP against the Seattle Seahawks. Against Seattle, Purdy threw for 217 yards, completed 65.4-percent of his passes, and scored two touchdowns with zero interceptions.
The Numbers Continue to Back It Up
In Week 16, Purdy ranked No. 13 with 17.0 Fantasy Points against the Washington Football Team. Against Washington, Purdy threw for 234 yards and completed 68.2-percent of his passes. Additionally, he scored two touchdowns and threw one interception. In Week 17, he ranked No. 9 with 18.1 Fantasy Points against the Las Vegas Raiders. Against Las Vegas, Purdy threw for 284 yards, completed 62.9-percent of his passes, and scored two touchdowns while throwing just one interception.
Finally, in Week 18, he ranked No. 5 with 19.8 Fantasy Points against the Arizona Cardinals, throwing for 178 yards, completing 75.0-percent of his passes, and scoring three touchdowns with zero interceptions. Overall, these statistics show that Purdy has been a valuable asset to the 49ers, maintaining a consistent level of play throughout this period. His ability to perform well against a variety of teams with different defensive styles and strategies underscores his potential as a top-tier quarterback in the league.
Impressive Completion Percentage and Yards per Attempt
Brock Purdy finished No. 8 in completion percentage with a 69.8-percent completion rate. This places him among the league’s elite quarterbacks, including Geno Smith (69.8-percent), Joe Burrow (68.5-percent), Justin Herbert (68.2-percent), Matthew Stafford (68-percent), Jimmy Garoppolo, Daniel Jones, and Patrick Mahomes.
Furthermore, Purdy ranked No. 2 in yards per attempt with an impressive 8.3 yards per attempt. This demonstrates his ability to effectively move the ball downfield, a crucial trait for any starting quarterback. The top five quarterbacks in this category were:
- Tua Tagovailoa – Miami Dolphins: 8.9
- Brock Purdy – San Francisco 49ers: 8.3
- Patrick Mahomes – Kansas City Chiefs: 8.0
- Jimmy Garoppolo – San Francisco 49ers: 7.9
- Jalen Hurts – Philadelphia Eagles: 7.8
Dominating Touchdown Rate
Purdy’s touchdown rate of 7.6-percent led all qualified quarterbacks. He finished ahead of some of the league’s most talented and respected players, including:
- Patrick Mahomes at 6.3-percent
- Josh Allen at 6.1-percent
- Joe Burrow at 5.9-percent
- Dak Prescott at 5.8-percent
Impressive Under Pressure and in the Red Zone
Purdy’s performance under pressure was also notable, as he finished No. 2 in pressured completion percentage with 55.8-percent, only behind Justin Herbert at 57.1-percent. Additionally, Purdy led the league in red zone completion percentage, showcasing his ability to make crucial plays when it matters most.
Strong True Passer Rating
Purdy ranked No. 7 in True Passer Rating with a 94.81-percent score, further cementing his status as one of the league’s most reliable and efficient quarterbacks.
An Endorsement from the GM
At the owner’s meeting, John Lynch general manager for the 49ers, called Purdy the “leader in the clubhouse”
#49ers GM John Lynch with biggest endorsement of QB Brock Purdy as starter yet: "I think Brock has earned the right with the way he played that he’s probably the leader in the clubhouse at that…if we were to line up, he’d probably take that first snap."
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) March 27, 2023
It is quite evident that Brock Purdy‘s role as the starting quarterback for the 49ers is secure once he recuperates from his offseason UCL repair surgery, which he underwent after sustaining an injury during the NFC Championship game. Possessing a clear advantage over other contenders for the position, Purdy’s standing as the lead quarterback is not under threat.
While ensuring Purdy’s full recovery is essential, general manager John Lynch’s unwavering support signifies the team’s positive outlook on his rehabilitation timeline. The 49ers firmly believe that Purdy’s on-field prowess will remain unhindered by his surgically-restored elbow upon his return.
Brock Purdy‘s consistent performances, impressive completion percentage, high yards per attempt, dominating touchdown rate, and strong showing under pressure and in the red zone make him the undeniable choice as the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.
