The San Francisco 49ers continue to push through a grueling season filled with championship aspirations, despite having to navigate a roster decimated by injuries.
The Niners still have enough star power, of course, which drives their identity.
But there are several emerging players who deserve to be involved much more this season after effectively being sidelined all year long up to this point.
49ers need to give these 3 players more snaps right now
RB Isaac Guerendo
Second-year running back Isaac Guerendo has shown reliable hands and great vision behind the line of scrimmage, evidenced by his admirable rookie year in which he became the go-to in the wake of injuries to both Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason.
Some would even say Guerendo seems like one of the most natural fits for a Kyle Shanahan offense, bringing a solid blend of acceleration, decisive movement and versatility.
However, despite Guerendo's previous success on the field, he hasn't taken an offensive snap this year to date. He's contributed to 52 percent of special teams snaps but was relieved of his backup duties to Brian Robinson.
If the Niners would like to maximize their backfield talent while keeping both McCaffrey and Robinson fresh, it'dl behoove them to increase Guerendo's touches.
RB Jordan James
Rookie Jordan James is another player who provides a contrasting yet, equally valuable skill set.
While Guerendo thrives in space, James' strength lies between the tackles because he hits the gaps with great power, balance and such elusiveness that help him evade initial contact. He's also shown amazing patience and strong ball security, which is a trait Shanahan greatly covets. The former Oregon rusher's physical running style could assist the Niners with short-yardage and red-zone efficiency.
Giving him more touches would help spell the starters, too, while providing the first-year pro with some valuable experience for future seasons.
LB Nick Martin
For the defense, one player who pops out on tape has been rookie linebacker Nick Martin. He has tremendous upside despite a questionable preseason campaign and flashed enough talent to make an argument for additional playing time. An aggressive demeanor and range make him a valuable asset to a defense that preaches, "All gas, no brakes."
Martin plays with a ferocious mentality but moves gracefully enough to cover underneath routes. Having mostly resolved those preseason concerns in the months thereafter, using his upside would reinforce San Francisco's banged-up defense at precisely the right time. With all the injuries to that position group, expanding Martin's role could help the depth while providing another potential playmaker on that side of the ball.
The Niners have every reason to be optimistic about their current positioning given the extreme circumstances they had to endure.
Leaning more heavily on emerging talents like Guerendo, James and Martin could be beneficial when it matters most.