No. 4: Cornerback K’Waun Williams

Much of the focus on San Francisco’s secondary is centering on cornerbacks Richard Sherman and second-year pro Ahkello Witherspoon.

Yet with the NFL’s tendency of using three-wide formations — 11 personnel (three WRs, one TE, one RB) was used 59.3 percent of the time in 2017, per Football Outsiders — nickel cornerbacks have essentially emerged as starters.

Veteran cornerback K’Waun Williams was one of general manager John Lynch’s first signings after taking over his duties early in 2017. Williams, who missed all of 2016 with an injury, got off to a slow start with San Francisco. But by season’s end, the 5-foot-9, 185 pounder ended up with a 75.3 overall Pro Football Focus grade last year — second highest among Niners defensive backs behind safety Jaquiski Tartt (78.6).

Williams just turned 27 years old and is just hitting the prime of his career. And while he has missed a good chunk of training camp and the preseason with an ankle injury, along with being pushed by rookie defensive back D.J. Reed, expectations are awfully high for Williams with the 49ers’ meteoric rise since 2016.

He won’t make any Pro Bowls anytime soon. But Williams remains a vital part of San Francisco’s defense this season.

Next Page: No. 3