PFF's highest-graded 49ers player from Seahawks game is... an undrafted rookie

While plenty of rookies played key roles in the 49ers' Thursday night win over the Seahawks, Pro Football Focus felt this undrafted rookie was the best.

The San Francisco 49ers relied heavily on their class of rookies during the Thursday Night Football Week 6 road win over the Seattle Seahawks.

Running back Isaac Guerendo, asked to fill in following the halftime shoulder injury to starter Jordan Mason, rumbled off a back-breaking 76-yard score late in the fourth quarter to ensure the Niners' 36-24 victory. Aided by a key block from first-year right guard Dominick Puni, Guerendo's rush helped seal the deal.

Cornerback Renardo Green, getting the start in place of the injured Charvarius Ward, tipped momentum back in the Niners' favor with a fourth-quarter interception that turned into a San Francisco touchdown a few plays later, while safety Malik Mustapha picked off Hawks quarterback Geno Smith near the end zone back in the first quarter.

So, understandably, it'd be reasonable to assume one of those first-year pros would be Pro Football Focus' highest-graded player from Thursday night, right?

Wrong.

It's another player, an undrafted 49ers defender, to be precise.

Pro Football Focus tabs Evan Anderson as 49ers' highest-graded player from Week 6

PFF's postgame analysis from Thursday Night Football doesn't downplay the jobs from Green, Mustapha, Puni and Guerendo. Far from it.

However, the Niners' top player from the NFC West showdown was none other than undrafted defensive tackle Evan Anderson, who only participated in the game because of a pre-Week 6 call-up from the practice squad in light of an injury to veteran defensive tackle Jordan Elliott.

It'd be one thing if Anderson saw a mere handful of snaps, perhaps five or six over the course of all four quarters.

But Anderson was an integral part of the rotation, seeing a total of 13 defensive snaps and logging two assists and two quarterback hurries in the process, solidifying his 93.3 overall game grade.

That's best among all San Francisco players from the game:

1. DL Evan Anderson: 93.3
2. RG Dominick Puni: 87.8
3. RB Jordan Mason: 86.6
4. TE George Kittle: 80.6
5. S Malik Mustapha: 80.2

Anderson, a key undrafted free-agent pickup by the 49ers following last April's NFL Draft, might be making his way toward a full-time spot on the 53-man roster.

In the wake of such a performance, the Niners may be wise to sign him to such a deal anyway, knowing 31 other teams witnessed the rookie's efforts Thursday night and may be inclined to sign him off San Francisco's practice squad.

Now, PFF grades aren't exactly the end-all, be-all. But those who've watched Anderson play this season can attest to the talents he possesses.

And those may be worth developing on a larger scale, especially after Week 6.

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