Niner Noise
FanSided

5 49ers players who should see more playing time vs. Buccaneers

By Peter Panacy

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 28: Defensive end Ronald Blair #98 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles quarterback Josh Rosen #3 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 28: Defensive end Ronald Blair #98 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles quarterback Josh Rosen #3 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 30: Matt Dayes #27 of the Cleveland Browns runs for a second quarter touchdown while playing the Detroit Lions during a preseason game at Ford Field on August 30, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 30: Matt Dayes #27 of the Cleveland Browns runs for a second quarter touchdown while playing the Detroit Lions during a preseason game at Ford Field on August 30, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Running Back Matt Dayes

Here’s a player you haven’t heard much about. After third-string running back and special teams ace Raheem Mostert was lost to a broken forearm for the season in Week 9, the 49ers elected to promote second-year pro tailback Matt Dayes from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Dayes, 5-foot-9 and 205 pounds, has primarily contributed on special teams only during his brief career.

While Dayes doesn’t have anywhere close to the speed Mostert has, thereby making him not quite the fit in Kyle Shanahan’s rushing offense, he remains an unknown commodity. And it isn’t as if Shanahan has turned relatively unknown tailbacks into bona fide producers.

Just look at the 49ers’ top starter, Matt Breida, after being an undrafted free agent a year ago.

The reason for giving Dayes increased looks is pretty straightforward. Like C.J. Beathard, San Francisco knows what it has in veteran running back Alfred Morris who, after a solid preseason showing against the Indianapolis Colts earlier this year, hasn’t been much of a factor during the regular season and is averaging just 3.4 yards per carry.

That’s probably who Morris is at this point in his career, and there’s little reason to keep utilizing him as long as a player like Dayes is waiting in the folds.