Film Breakdown: Whose Stock is Up Heading into Week 2

Here are the best Week 1 plays from the 49ers players whose stock is up after their 24-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Here are the best Week 1 plays from the 49ers players whose stock is up after their 24-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

1.Left Tackle Trent Williams

6:09 First quarter. Second and 17 at SF 18. 

This is the first quarter of Williams' first game in almost two years, and he's facing the best edge rusher in the NFL, Chandler Jones. And it's second and long: Advantage: Jones. But Williams shuts him down without breaking a sweat. As if Jones is his little brother. Amazing.

0:34 First Quarter. Second and 7 at AZ 19. 

Williams runs upfield like a heat-seeking missile and takes out Cardinals linebacker Jordan Hicks. Just crushes him. This is the hardest hit I've ever seen an offensive tackle put on a linebacker. Williams is a flat-out monster.

2. Jordan Reed the Receiver

2:00 First quarter. 1st and 10 at AZ 32. 

Lines up in the slot across from Cardinals linebacker De'Vondre Campbell, who plays bump-and-run coverage to take away the slant route. Reed beats with him a slant route anyway and gains 10 yards. Reed is a superb route runner who needs to be more involved in the offense. Two targets isn't enough.

3. Running Back Jerick McKinnon

13:16 Second quarter. 3rd and 17 at AZ 17. 

Makes two defenders fall down during one run. Makes a nice cut on his right leg, followed by an even better cut on his left leg. You wouldn't know he missed the past 1,000 days with a knee injury. He looks like the player he used to be.

4. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw

2:41 Second quarter. 1st and 15 at AZ 37. 

The 49ers have faced Kyler Murray three times, and he seems to confuse their defenders, with the exception of Greenlaw. Here Greenlaw reads Murray's eyes, times a jump perfectly and tips a pass to Jaquiski Tartt, who makes the interception. Greenlaw is a play-maker and a better linebacker than Kwon Alexander. Not even close.

14:55 Third quarter. 1st and 10 at AZ 37. 

Diagnoses a reverse quickly. Chases down Christian Kirk without giving up a cutback lane and tackles him after a gain of just three yards. Alexander would have overrun Kirk and given up the cutback. 

5. Tight End Ross Dwelley

8:42 Fourth quarter. Third and 5 at AZ 5. 

The touchdown pass to Jerick McKinnon, who was wide open. Why was he wide open? Because Dwelley ran his route into two defenders and took both of them out of the play. Dwelley is the 49ers' unsung hero.

6. Defensive Tackle Kevin Givens

7:48 Fourth Quarter. 1st and 10 at AZ 46. 

The 49ers defensive line did an abysmal job containing Murray in the pocket, but Givens actually corralled him once. Murray tried to scramble up the middle, but Givens chased him down, reached out and tackled him with one hand. 

Watch the full breakdown below.