3 Niners among bye-week options
Four or more teams will be off in each of the next five weeks (Raiders, Steelers, Packers and Seahawks this week). This is the stretch in which depth either really pays off or can hurt your outlook if you are not informed and dedicated enough. But do take one week at a time, especially if you have key players off this week. We’re most notably without the services of all the prime Pittsburgh skill-position players and the Green Bay passing-game players, plus Marshawn Lynch, Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett and Russell Wilson. Running backs Marlon Mack, Colts: Projected to be the lead back in Indianapolis this year, Mack finally returned from a hamstring injury Sunday and rushed for 89 yards on 12 carries. This Sunday, he faces Buffalo’s 18th-ranked run defense, which makes him an adequate replacement play. Ito Smith, Falcons: The rookie remains widely available even though he has had TD runs in three consecutive games. A total of 62 rushing yards during that span might be a prime reason he is still on many waiver wires. But the RB position is tough enough to manage when there are not four-team byes and you might need to use Smith as a sub. Raheem Mostert, 49ers: After flashing some spark in the preseason, Mostert surprisingly received some playing time against the Packers on Monday night and rushed for 87 yards on 12 carries. He might be only a part-timer, but depth is obviously needed at this position right now. Nick Chubb, Browns: Carlos Hyde has only 12 total points in point-per-reception formats in his past two games and appears to have hit some sort of invisible wall. Head coach Hue Jackson has indicated he needs to get Chubb more work. Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, 49ers: Injuries have hindered Goodwin, and he was cut in 8.9 percent of leagues last week. Goodwin then re-emerged in a big way with four catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns Monday night. Jermaine Kearse, Jets: Quincy Enunwa is out for at least three weeks with a high ankle sprain and Kearse stepped into the void quickly Sunday, catching nine passes for 94 yards. Kearse is a receiver who should have the trust of rookie QB Sam Darnold. Josh Reynolds, Rams: He is in the waiver conversation again with Cooper Kupp out with a knee injury. Reynolds might be third on the receiving ladder for the Rams on Sunday, but you can consider him for bye-week usage when you note he faces the 49ers’ 20th-ranked pass defense. Taylor Gabriel, Bears: He has caught 12 passes for 214 yards and two TDs in his past two games. Gabriel is getting more volume than expected, which could quell some concerns that he might be a boom-or-bust type. Tight end O.J. Howard, Buccaneers: He returned rather quickly from a knee injury Sunday and caught four passes for 62 yards and a TD. Howard already has three double-figure PPR performances this year. Quarterback C.J. Beathard, 49ers: The second-year QB has played better than expected, having scored 18-19 fantasy points in standard scoring over the past three games, with two TD passes in each and 298 or more yards in two outings.