ESPN Football Power Index highlights just how brutal 49ers division is
· Yahoo Sports
The San Francisco 49ers have a lot of positive momentum heading into the 2026 season. The team is getting healthy at important positions and made some tremendous upgrades on both sides of the ball through free agency, trades and the draft.
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As such, the 49ers finished No. 5 in ESPN's initial Football Power Index rankings ahead of the 2026 season. They ranked behind the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks.
ESPN's Football Power Index is out!
— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) June 3, 2026
The Rams are No. 1, the Seahawks are No. 4 and the Patriots are...No. 14!
Projections, most likely Super Bowl matchups and more in today's story: https://t.co/a3gvnREcZ3pic.twitter.com/cUwrQBBGkw
Per ESPN's Seth Walder, these numbers are "based on win totals from the betting market in conjunction with each team's schedule — along with factors such as the difference between a team's starting and backup quarterback and a special teams rating that incorporates specific kickers." The ratings are used in thousands of simulations of the season to determine who is the most likely Super Bowl winner.
The most striking part of these rankings is that three NFC West teams made the top five. Per Walder, this is the first time at least two teams from the same division made the top five of the preseason rankings since 2022, when the Cincinnati Bengals and Ravens did. According to the model, the Rams have the highest probability of winning the Super Bowl at 46.0%, while the 49ers' 26.1% isn't that far behind the Seahawks' 27.8% chance.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL rankings: San Francisco 49ers top 10 in ESPN FPI