49ers roster: 4 young players who need more snaps vs. Rams

The 49ers need to start thinking about their future at 3-5, meaning these four players should get an uptick in use in Week 10 against the Rams.

The San Francisco 49ers are probably going to take another heavy blow to their dwindling playoff hopes in Week 10 when they host the 7-2 Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football.

Fresh off a prime-time Sunday Night Football loss to the Tennessee Titans the previous week, which will leave head coach Sean McVay’s squad plenty angry, the Rams are nevertheless going “all in” on a Super Bowl this season after already acquiring EDGE Von Miller at the NFL trade deadline, then inking superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. after he was released by the Cleveland Browns late last week.

The 3-5 Niners, meanwhile, are trending in the opposite direction after losing four of their last five games and falling awfully quick out of postseason contention.

With that trend, though, comes the need to focus more on the future. Older veterans, especially those who are pending free agents in 2022, give little value to the team’s long-term plans right now.

Even if their younger backups, first- and second-year players, aren’t quite ready for full-time action, at least giving them some field time would help determine whether or not they’ll eventually be part of the solution going forward.

Such as these four players who should be playing much more, starting off in Week 10 when Los Angeles comes to town.