The New Orleans Saints saw the San Francisco 49ers march into the Superdome on Sunday and never really stopped that march, falling 26-21 to backup 49ers quarterback Mac Jones. Still, there were some positives to take away.
Let’s take a look at the top and lowest PFF grades on both sides of the ball for the week. As an aside, all players listed below played a minimum of 20 snaps.
Top Graded Offensive Player: Spencer Rattler, 75.5
Another week, another sound performance from the first year starter. After tossing no touchdowns in Week 1, he threw three on Sunday while by and large protecting the ball.
The last minute fumble was of course a huge mistake, but after being concerned about his penchant for turnovers going into the season, it has to be encouraging that he’s only turned it over once in two games.
Lowest Graded Offensive Player: Cesar Ruiz, 43.3
Similar to Rattler, Ruiz is on this list for the second straight week. Unlike Rattler though, it’s not for positive reasons.
Offensive line coaches constantly stress consistency, being able to repeat mechanics, the mundanity of repetition. In one sense, Ruiz does that by consistently repeating poor lower body mechanics and repeatedly having slower hands than his defenders.
The Saints will need him to break those habits, and quickly, if they want to see Rattler have enough time in the pocket to continue his development.
Top Graded Defensive Player: Chris Rumph II, 80.2
The Saints might have something here. After missing the end of 2023 and all of 2024 with injuries as a member of the Chargers, Chris Rumph is showing the talent that made him a fourth-round pick in 2021.
After never recording a full season grade of 60.8 (in 2021 on 176 total snaps), Rumph, or CR2, has posted a 75.5 overall grade through two weeks on 45 total snaps, including 24 this week.
Of course, it’s a small sample size. But if Rumph can produce at such a level even in a rotational role then New Orleans could have a potential multi-year player.
Lowest Graded Defensive Player: Davon Godchaux, 30.6
There’s really no powdered sugar coating this one. Godchaux hasn’t been above average since his early days with Miami, but even in his recent years with the Patriots he was at least serviceable.
However, through two weeks in his debut season with New Orleans he’s been inconsistent at best. After posting an above average 62.8 grade in 39 Week 1 snaps, he struggled in 33 snaps on Sunday.
Perhaps most concerning is his 32.0 run defense grade. Billed as a run-stuffing zero-tech or one-tech interior defensive lineman, a run stopper that can’t stop the run isn't exactly an efficient use of a roster spot.