We have reached the most important part of the fantasy football season as the playoffs are officially underway. Teams have either advanced past their first round matchup, or four-team playoff leagues have officially completed their regular season. Accordingly, it is all about the waiver wire pickups that can give you that last little edge to get over the hump and into the money round.
The San Francisco 49ers host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football this week, which means late roster decisions and a tough defensive matchup for 49ers skill position players. There are some waiver wire sleepers on the 49ers roster, but most are better suited for teams that are getting desperate at a given position due to injuries.
If you lost DeMarco Murray because of his broken ankle, one deep sleeper is 49ers running back Kendall Hunter. The 49ers gave Hunter eight carries to Frank Gore's ten and in his day after press conference, head coach Jim Harbaugh acknowledged that Gore was not 100% and that he was dealing with some things. Unfortunately the 49ers are fairly secretive about their week-to-week plans, but if you are desperate, Hunter could be an intriguing play. The Steelers rush defense is not nearly as good as their pass defense, so it is something to consider.
Kyle Williams remains a guy with modest upside in an inconsistent 49ers passing attack. Michael Crabtree is the primary weapon, but the team is utilizing Williams a bit more frequently lately. Two weeks ago he had two receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown. This week he had four receptions for 42 yards. He has not blown up yet, but he is getting more and more looks.