The San Francisco 49ers will emerge from their Week 8 bye at 6-1 with the cavalry on the way. Several big name players such as Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel, and Mike Evans are all pointed toward Week 9. This means the current distribution of snaps is automatically going to shift for the whole team, and many of the players who stepped up to help the Niners along the way will fade back into the bench.
There's nothing wrong with that, it's simply how it should work in the first place.
But three of the players who filled in did more than survive their audition, and their roles shouldn't disappear when the stars return.
WR Jordan Watkins
Jordan Watkins played in 76 percent of offensive snaps in each of the last two games before the bye, and he made the most of them in Atlanta. He caught three passes for 56 yards, had a touchdown overturned on review, and drew public praise from head coach Kyle Shanahan after the fact.
With Evans and Samuel coming back to the lineup, Watkins will undeniably take a step back. But his performance has earned him the right to additional snaps, because he's proven he can produce when given the chance.
RB Kaelon Black
It's difficult for a running back to make a name for himself when he's second on the depth chart behind Christian McCaffrey. But Kaelon Black has done a good job given the circumstances. He's amassed 233 rushing yards and one touchdown across 57 carries.
In Atlanta alone, Black led the Niners with 12 carries, 63 yards, and his only touchdown of the season. With the 49ers seemingly easing back on McCaffrey's workload, Black has shown he can step up when called upon.
Give Black the chance to put together a good season, and the 49ers could potentially have two elite running backs on their roster headed into January.
DT Gracen Halton
Gracen Halton is tied for second on the team with two sacks, and he owns one of the season's signature plays, the end-zone fumble recovery for a touchdown against Seattle. With Alfred Collins out for the season, the interior rotation has snaps available, and Halton should grow into obvious passing downs.
He's a fourth-round rookie who keeps making plays in limited work. The second half should find out what he looks like with more of it.
Returning players to the roster could very well define the 49ers second half of the season, but so could these three players getting a higher snap count. A playoff run is rarely carried by 22 starters alone, and the bye week is the perfect opportunity to reward those players who have earned their spot.
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