After blowing a late lead and losing the 2023 Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs, the San Francisco 49ers X-factors will be critical as the team looks to rebound from an injury-riddled 2024 season.”
Now, with a reshaped roster, coach Kyle Shanahan’s group is aiming for a return to the postseason and perhaps another shot at the Lombardi Trophy. But they will have to do so without several key contributors. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and cornerback Charvarius Ward departed in free agency, while star receiver Deebo Samuel was traded to the Washington Commanders.
Still, the 49ers are hardly starting from scratch. Quarterback Brock Purdy, defensive anchors Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, veteran left tackle Trent Williams, running back Christian McCaffrey, and tight end George Kittle all remain. However, Purdy and Kittle sustained injuries in their first game of the season against the Seattle Seahawks, so their contributions moving forward remain uncertain.
49ers X-Factors: Four Players Key to a Rebound Season
1. Running back Brian Robinson Among 49ers X-Factors
The 49ers acquired Robinson from Washington in August for a sixth-round pick to bolster depth behind McCaffrey. That move could prove crucial if McCaffrey’s injury lingers. Robinson, a 2022 third-round pick, is coming off his best NFL season with 799 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. His combination of experience and power running gives the 49ers a capable fallback. If both he and McCaffrey stay healthy, San Francisco could field one of the league’s best rushing tandems. Through two games, Robinson has carried the ball 15 times for 53 yards.
2. Emerging Wide Receiver Ricky Pearsall
The 49ers’ 2024 first-round pick overcame a harrowing start to his career, recovering after being shot during an attempted robbery in San Francisco. Once healthy, Pearsall flashed his potential, finishing his rookie season with 31 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns. With Samuel gone and Brandon Aiyuk rehabbing a torn ACL and MCL, Pearsall enters 2025 with a chance to emerge as a featured target. He has caught eight passes over the first two games, accumulating 164 receiving yards.
3. Defensive lineman Mykel Williams
San Francisco used its top draft pick on Williams, a disruptive force out of Georgia. The rookie is expected to play a key role in easing the load on Nick Bosa, who constantly battles double-teams. If Williams can generate consistent pressure, the 49ers’ pass rush could regain its dominant edge. Williams has played well so far with six tackles, four of them unassisted.
Blocking Mykel Williams with a TE is useless!
Williams was a flat out beast in week 2 showcasing impressive versatility on the DL!
Via: @dlinevids1 pic.twitter.com/VoIiBRmdwm
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) September 15, 2025
4. Defensive Lineman Alfred Collins
Collins, the team’s second-round draft pick, brings size and versatility from Texas. Like Williams, his ability to adapt quickly to the NFL will directly impact Bosa’s effectiveness. Even a modest rookie-year contribution could help stabilize a defensive front that lost two longtime starters. Collins has three tackles as part of the 49ers defensive line rotation.
The 49ers still boast a core capable of chasing a sixth Super Bowl title, but their ceiling may depend on the level of impact these x factors make. If Robinson shores up the backfield, Pearsall steps into a bigger role, and at least one rookie lineman makes an impact, San Francisco could find themselves back in the playoffs.
Main Photo Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
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