San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel gets his next chance to break out of a brutal slump when the team hosts the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. The former First-team All-Pro has averaged 3.3 half-PPR points per game over his last four contests. Samuel Sr. created drama early in the week, expressing dissatisfaction with a perceived decrease in the team getting him the ball. There is some truth to the complaint. Samuel Sr.'s career-high was 8.5 touches per game in 2021, and he averaged 6.5 touches per game last year compared to 6.0 touches this year. Of course, he didn't mention his season total of four broken tackles on social media, nor his 13.8 yards per reception (down almost a full yard from 2023), or his 2.9 yards per carry. The squeaky wheel may get the grease in this situation, but head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Brock Purdy don't seem like the type to force-feed a complaining wideout based on their reactions this week. The Rams are a top-10 matchup to opposing wideouts, but it will be hard to trust Samuel Sr. in fantasy playoff lineups. He's a back-end WR3 at best in Week 15.
Dec 12, 2024 12:43 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. once again had fantasy managers shaking their heads during a 38-13 blowout of the Chicago Bears on Sunday in Santa Clara. While technically an improvement from last week, two catches on three targets for 22 yards and five carries for 13 yards rushing isn't what one expects when checking the box score after a 38-point offensive output. Sunday marked the fourth-consecutive performance for Samuel Sr. with under five half-PPR points. Chicago appeared to spend most of the game in zone coverage -- which was vanquished not by perennial zone-beater Samuel Sr., but by wideout Jauan Jennings and tight end George Kittle. Samuel Sr. will be hard to start in the fantasy playoffs when he gets his next chance in Week 15 on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams in Santa Clara.
Dec 9, 2024 12:10 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. will be looking to change his fortunes in a Week 14 home matchup against the Chicago Bears. Entering the contest, Samuel Sr. has failed to break five half-PPR points in three straight games. Last week in snowy Buffalo, he bottomed out -- or at least his fantasy managers hope so -- grabbing four of five targets for just 20 yards and no rushing attempts. Although Samuel Sr. won't be battling the weather on Sunday, the Bears pass defense offers pretty stiff competition -- fourth-best in the NFL at preventing fantasy points to wideouts in half-PPR settings. Samuel Sr. is still capable of burning fantasy managers who finally decide to bench him but the trend, matchup, and San Francisco's injury-riddled offense make him a risky low-end WR3 on Sunday, even in a six-team bye week.
Dec 6, 2024 11:54 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. didn't do much to regain fantasy managers' confidence during a 35-10 defeat to the Bills in Buffalo on Sunday night. Samuel Sr. finished with four receptions on five targets for 20 yards receiving. He also lost a fumble. The modest reception total represented a team-high, and the targets tied fellow wideout Jauan Jennings for the team lead. In fairness to Deebo, San Francisco's entire offense was discombobulated in the snowy affair. Down two offensive linemen in heavy snow before losing running back Christian McCaffrey to a knee injury makes for a rough assignment against one of the best teams in football. At the same time, it marks the third straight game that Samuel Sr. has been held below five half-PPR points in fantasy. It's worth noting that Samuel Sr.'s lone unfulfilled target on Sunday should have been caught, which followed two crucial drops in Green Bay last week. Samuel Sr. gets another chance to turn it around against the Chicago Bears at home in Week 14.
Dec 2, 2024 1:44 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. will attempt to break out of a four-game touchdown-less slump when the team goes to Buffalo to face the Bills in Week 13. The sixth-year pro's performance in Green Bay last week was ugly. Samuel Sr. was targeted four times by backup quarterback Brandon Allen, catching only one pass for 21 yards. Two of those unfulfilled targets should have been caught. He had no rushing attempts. Amid speculation that Samuel Sr. is looking a little "thicker" lately, his most explosive play in recent memory was an 87-yard kick return at Lambeau called back for holding. It could be rough-going again in a loud, cold, and maybe snowy Orchard Park, as the Bills have allowed the eighth-fewest half-PPR points to opposing wide receivers. Significantly, San Francisco's offensive line is banged up, with All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) set to miss a second-straight game and starting left guard Aaron Banks (concussion) also out. Still, Samuel Sr. likely offers at least a modest rebound from last week with starting quarterback Brock Purdy (shoulder) expected to play. Samuel Sr. is a WR3/FLEX this week, with a downgrade to WR4 if Purdy can't go.
Nov 30, 2024 12:36 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. came into a Week 12 matchup at the Green Bay Packers in a modest slump, averaging 8.3 half-PPR points over his past three games. The former Gamecock's struggles bottomed out on Sunday, as he finished with one catch on four targets for 21 yards. Much of San Francisco's offensive ineptitude on the day can be explained by starting quarterback Brock Purdy (shoulder) and left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) watching from the sidelines. However, outside of his one catch-and-run and 87-yard kick return nullified by a holding call, Samuel Sr. was part of the problem. With two crucial drops, including one that directly led to a Brandon Allen interception, it's hard to say with a straight face that Samuel Sr.'s fantasy day was a victim of circumstance. In Week 13, things don't get any easier for Samuel Sr. and the Niners as they travel to Buffalo to face the Bills. If San Francisco's injury problems at quarterback and offensive line linger, Samuel Sr. will be hard to trust in fantasy lineups.
Nov 25, 2024 12:14 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. will line up across from the Packers in Green Bay on Sunday. In one of his most disappointing fantasy performances of the year, the dual-threat weapon was held to 4.1 half-PPR points in last week's home loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Looking ahead things don't look too promising. The Packers have been the 12th-toughest matchup for opposing wide receivers, and the 49ers will be without quarterback Brock Purdy (shoulder) and potentially All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, who is questionable with an ankle injury. It's possible that Samuel Sr. could find rapport with backup QB Brandon Allen at Lambeau Field, but the slump-breaking performance that fantasy managers have been waiting for since Week 6 is less likely now. At least tight end George Kittle (hamstring) is back, hopefully taking some defensive focus off Samuel Sr. between the hash marks. Given the uncertainty regarding San Francisco's offensive efficiency in Week 12, consider Samuel Sr. a mid-range WR2.
Nov 23, 2024 1:28 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. laid down a fantasy dud in a 20-17 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. The South Carolina native's seven targets were the second-most on the team -- wideout Jauan Jennings had 11 for the second week in a row -- but Samuel Sr. could only total four catches for 22 yards. He got just one carry which went for a one-yard loss. Samuel Sr.'s fantasy value has rested on his big-play potential more than heavy receiving volume in recent years, but his 5.6 targets per game this season is his lowest since his rookie year in 2019. His yards per reception is still a healthy 14.8 but with only two touchdowns in nine games played, Samuel Sr. hasn't lived up to his high-end WR2 ADP. He is currently the overall WR36 in half-PPR scoring. Fantasy managers will look for Samuel Sr. to get it going next Sunday when the 49ers travel to Green Bay for a Week 12 showdown with the Packers.
Nov 17, 2024 11:24 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. will face the Seattle Seahawks for the eighth career time in a Week 11 divisional matchup. Samuel Sr. has had more good games than bad against Seattle over the years, including Week 6 this season when he had 117 total yards and a touchdown. Less encouragingly, the game mentioned above was the last time Samuel Sr. exceeded half-PPR projections. Before that, you'd have to go back to Week 2, and he's averaged 5.2 targets and 2.7 carries per game since then. It's not like San Francisco hasn't been passing either, see Jauan Jennings' 11 targets last week. Samuel Sr. has been injured off-and-on this season, perhaps nagging injuries are playing a role. Still, the 28-year-old is just as likely as anyone to rip off a big play, and the 10 half-PPR points he's put up in each of the past two weeks aren't horrible. Seattle has allowed the 11th-most points per game to fantasy receivers. Samuel Sr. checks in on Sunday at the WR1/2 border.
Nov 16, 2024 1:04 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. fell a bit short of projections in a 23-20 win over the Buccaneers in Tampa on Sunday. The 28-year-old dual threat caught five of six targets for 62 yards receiving and three carries for 14 yards rushing. It's worth noting that Samuel Sr. was limited in practice all week with rib and oblique issues and was announced to play relatively late. Pure speculation here, but Samuel Sr. didn't appear to have his best burst and aggression with the ball in his hands in this one. Samuel Sr. surely has better performances ahead of him, but today, it was shown that the absence of Brandon Aiyuk doesn't imply increased volume for Deebo, especially with the return of Christian McCaffrey. Jauan Jennings drew 11 targets and rookie Ricky Pearsall took the same amount of targets as Samuel Sr. The 49ers will get the Seattle Seahawks at home in Week 11.
Nov 11, 2024 12:09 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (rib, oblique) is officially active for Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had been listed as questionable after logging three limited practices in a row. Samuel has delivered modest production so far this season, catching just 24 passes for 406 yards and one touchdown through seven games. Fantasy managers should still deploy him, given his talent, role, and usage, but his days of being a surefire WR1 are over. For now, he's a riskier WR2 play.
Nov 10, 2024 11:33 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (rib, oblique) is expected to suit up for Sunday's matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The wideout was limited in practice throughout the week. However, it appears Samuel is in line to play, which is more great news for the 49ers, a team that is also expected to get Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) and Jauan Jennings (hip) back on the field. But as far as Samuel is concerned, he's caught only 24 passes for 406 yards and a touchdown this season, adding another score on the ground. Yet, with Brandon Aiyuk (knee) sidelined for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign, Samuel should see an uptick in attention from Brock Purdy moving forward.
Nov 10, 2024 12:49 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (oblique, ribs) is officially listed as questionable to play in the Week 10 matchup versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday, per head coach Kyle Shanahan. Samuel was limited in the first two practices of the week before shedding his non-contact jersey on Friday, so he's on the right side of questionable this weekend and should play after having last week's bye to heal up. In addition to Samuel likely being active against Tampa, Jauan Jennings (hip) and Chris Conley (ankle) have been cleared, which will make it more difficult for rookie Ricky Pearsall to stand out from a fantasy perspective. With Brandon Aiyuk (knee) out for the year, Samuel should be one of quarterback Brock Purdy's top targets going forward, making him a must-start in fantasy. Samuel caught four passes for 71 yards and carried the ball four times for 15 yards in Week 9.
Nov 8, 2024 7:00 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receivers Deebo Samuel Sr. (oblique, rib) and Jauan Jennings (hip) were both limited in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday. Chris Conley (hamstring) missed another practice. While Samuel is still hurting from injuries he suffered in the Week 8 win over the Dallas Cowboys, he's still up in the air to play in Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite having last week's bye to rest up. We'd still be surprised if he's not active this Sunday. Samuel is a must-start fantasy wideout when active, especially with Brandon Aiyuk (knee) out for the year. Jennings missed Weeks 7 and 8 due to his hip ailment but could make it back this weekend, where he'd likely serve as the No. 2 behind Samuel, giving him upside as a WR4/flex for fantasy managers in a good matchup.
Nov 7, 2024 7:37 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receivers Deebo Samuel Sr. (oblique, rib) and Jauan Jennings (hip) were both listed as limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday coming out of their bye. Chris Conley (hamstring) was a DNP. Samuel was injured in the Week 8 win over the San Francisco 49ers but was able to rest up last week. Although he's not a lock to play this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 28-year-old pass-catcher is trending in the right direction. Jennings has missed the team's last two games due to a hip injury and is now hoping to return in Week 10. Brandon Aiyuk (knee) is out for the season and Samuel is also banged up, so when Jennings returns, he should see enough volume in San Fran's passing attack to be worth a look as a WR4/flex in fantasy lineups. Samuel is a must-start if he's active.
Nov 6, 2024 8:00 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (ribs) was forced to exit early during Sunday's win over the Dallas Cowboys. He departed in the fourth quarter with pain in his ribs. It's worth noting that Samuel spent time in the hospital with pneumonia prior to Sunday's game. Head coach Kyle Shanahan says the team is considering Samuel as day-to-day right now. The good news is that the 49ers are on a bye this week. That means, Samuel will have plenty of time to rest ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on this situation throughout the week.
Oct 28, 2024 9:13 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (wrist, illness) will play on Sunday night versus the Cowboys. The wideout has been dealing with a wrist injury. However, he also had a bout of Pneumonia, forcing his premature departure from the Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Samuel has underperformed this season, amassing 20 catches for 335 yards and 19 carries for 51 yards while totaling two touchdowns. But with Brandon Aiyuk (knee), Jauan Jennings (hip), and Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) sidelined, Samuel could easily surpass his fantasy expectations.
Oct 27, 2024 7:02 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (illness, wrist) is expected to play in Sunday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys. The wideout has been battling a wrist issue for a few weeks. He also was dealing with a case of Pneumonia, forcing his premature exit from the Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Fortunately, Samuel started to feel better over the last few days, so barring a setback, he should be good to go. The 49ers are hurting on the offensive side of the ball, with Brandon Aiyuk (knee) done for the year and Jauan Jennings (hip) missing another contest. There's also a chance George Kittle (foot) isn't available. As such, expectations are high for Samuel in Week 8, even if he still has some residual symptoms related to the illness.
Oct 26, 2024 11:25 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (wrist, illness) has garnered a questionable designation for Sunday's home tilt against the Dallas Cowboys. The 28-year-old has been dealing with a wrist issue for a few weeks, and he entered the team's Week 7 outing without a designation. However, a late-week bout with pneumonia knocked him from the contest after just four snaps. He'd ultimately be hospitalized with fluid in his lungs earlier this week, but it appears he's improved enough to be labeled as questionable. Head coach Kyle Shanahan noted they've taken it slowly with the veteran wideout, but his stamina has improved daily. San Francisco could undoubtedly use their star wideout with teammate Jauan Jennings (hip) ruled out and Brandon Aiyuk's (knee) loss for the rest of the season. If Samuel Sr. can't suit up rookie WRs Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing and second-year receiver Ronnie Bell should see the majority of snaps for the 49ers.
Oct 25, 2024 8:28 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (illness, wrist) returned to the practice field on Thursday and was listed as limited after being listed as a DNP on Wednesday. Receiver Chris Conley (ankle) was also limited for the second straight day. Samuel put up a donut for his fantasy managers in the Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs when he played just four offensive snaps. The 28-year-old was later hospitalized with pneumonia, but he's feeling better this week and is trending toward a return on Sunday night for a showdown against the Dallas Cowboys. With Brandon Aiyuk (knee) out for the season and Jauan Jennings (hip) trending toward missing a second straight game, Samuel should see heavy volume in Week 8 if he's active. Check back on Friday to see if Samuel carries an injury designation into Sunday's game.
Oct 24, 2024 7:12 PM EST