Studs and Duds: Niners huge win over Saints led by Christian McCaffrey and… Mac Jones?

Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers can’t help it.

Whenever they go to New Orleans, they end up in a shootout.

Sunday’s Week 2 matchup between the 49ers and Saints was more entertaining than it had any right to be, and the Niners have a 2-0 record that shows that guts matter a heck of a lot in the NFL.

Here are the studs and duds (in no particular order) from the Niners’ 26-21 win.

STUDS

Brandon Staley’s time with the 49ers was unremarkable. His Saints defense is anything but

The Bob Show — DC Robert Saleh is here to save the 49ers’ season

Kurtenbach: You thought the 49ers’ chaos was limited to last season? Think again

The 49ers defense is leaning on rookies. Here’s how they did in Week 1

Kurtenbach: An act of mercy — it’s time (again) for the 49ers to cut kicker Jake Moody

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, right, catches a pass against New Orleans Saints linebacker Pete Werner (20) during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Christian McCaffrey • RB
Is he a perfect offensive football player? Sunday’s performance was good evidence to confirm that suspicion. For a large portion of the game, it was McCaffrey or nothing for the Niners. That’s apparently good enough to be a functional offense. My goodness, was he good.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (1) makes a reception as New Orleans Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom (27) defends during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sep. 14, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)

Ricky Pearsall • WR
Folks, the only Niners receiver who could consistently separate on Sunday was Pearsall. He’s a star.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler, bottom, is tackled by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Dee Winters • LB
One brilliant game? That might be a fluke. Back-to-back brilliant performances? That’s a trend, folks. Winters is the real deal, and the Niners’ defense carries a different swagger because of it.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) runs the ball past New Orleans Saints safety Jonas Sanker (33) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sep. 14, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)

Jauan Jennings • WR
I’d be remiss not to shout out the warrior-like performance from Jennings. His shoulder was busted up, his legs looked like they weighed 100 pounds each, and yet he still caught five passes for 89 yards, including a 42-yard, game-winning touchdown.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Bryce Huff (47) celebrates after sacking New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler to force a turnover on downs during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Bryce Huff • DE
No one doubted that he could rush the passer as a hand-in-the-ground defensive end. Huff was not only a consistent winner as a pass rusher, but he’s held up better in the run game than I ever imagined. The game-winning forced fumble off an elite rush was merely the cherry on top. Nice pickup by the Niners.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 14: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers looks on against the New Orleans Saints during the second half in the game at Caesars Superdome on September 14, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Kyle Shanahan • HC
Shanahan busted out the old 2021 playbook and turned Mac Jones into Jimmy Garoppolo and Christian McCaffrey into Deebo Samuel. And boy, did it ever work. Was it an elite offensive performance? Hardly. But it was solid in a situation where the Niners had little right to be solid. Shanahan can still scheme it up, folks.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Bryce Huff (47) celebrates with cornerback Upton Stout, rear, and defensive end Mykel Williams (98) after sacking New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (2) to force a turnover on downs during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Mykel Williams • DE
The rookie lived in the Saints’ backfield. So much for all that hand-wringing from the YouTube highlights crowd about that first game (which was good!).

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 14: Mac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers is congratulated by Christian McCaffrey #23 after passing the ball for a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second half in the game at Caesars Superdome on September 14, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Mac Jones • QB
That’s a pretty darn good backup quarterback.

San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges (88) is tackled by New Orleans Saints linebacker Pete Werner (20) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sep. 14, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)

Jake Tonges • TE
A sneaky positive development of the preseason was Tonges’ reps at fullback. He was really good at it. That proved vital in this game, where he was, indeed, very good at it with Kyle Juszczyk out with a concussion.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara, right, is brought down by San Francisco 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown, left, before fumbling the ball, which was recovered by linebacker Fred Warner, during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Ji’Ayir Brown • SS
Big credit to defensive coordinator Robert Saleh for finding a role for the wayward Brown, who stood out as a third-down strong safety/linebacker in this game.

DUDS

What the 49ers said after beating the Saints

49ers 26, Saints 21: Jones’ three TD passes, late defensive heroics help Niners reach 2-0

49ers-Saints updates: Jauan Jennings, Trent Williams suit up for Mac Jones’ debut

Brandon Staley’s time with the 49ers was unremarkable. His Saints defense is anything but

Timeline: How Mac Jones ended up being the 49ers’ starting quarterback

Alfred Collins • DT
I didn’t know you could ice skate in New Orleans. After a disastrous first game where he stopped receiving snaps in the second half, Collins was even more of a weak point in Week 2. That’s not the trajectory you want any rookie to take, much less your second-round pick who was drafted to a position of need with an intent for immediate impact.

Dominik Puni • RG
Puni is playing injured, and you can see it rep after rep.

Brian Robinson • RB
Niners fans were far more excited about Robinson than those in-house, because for fans, Robinson’s reputation as a one-year Fantasy Football league winner preceded him. But he’s not that back anymore, and he certainly isn’t behind this Niners’ offensive line, which sold out to pass-protect on Sunday.

Robinson isn’t a bad player – he’s simply the most average running back. He’ll get you everything you block for him and nothing more. That meant an average of 2.5 yards per carry in the first half. Think of Robinson as a control running back. How good is Christian McCaffrey? Look at how hard this all seems for Robinson.

Issac Guerendo • KR
He was given a couple of chances to return kicks and botched them both by making a bad one-on-one read and then returning one from the end zone. If you’re wondering why the Niners traded for Robinson instead of playing Guerendo, the kickoff returns were an excellent explanation. He doesn’t see it, and if you can’t see it, you can’t play for Shanahan.