Who Should I Start? Deebo Samuel Sr. or Josh Downs

Friday, October 23, 1:51 PM

San Francisco 49ers veteran wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) has officially been ruled out for Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons by head coach Kyle Shanahan, according to NBC Sports' Matt Maiocco. Samuel was expected to miss multiple weeks with a hamstring strain after he injured it in the Week 5 win over the division-rival Seattle Seahawks, so fantasy managers should not be surprised that the 30-year-old has been ruled out for a second straight week. With a bye coming in Week 8 for the Niners, Samuel's next chance to play will be in a Week 9 matchup at home against the Las Vegas Raiders. By then, the team's receiver room could look a lot different, potentially limiting Samuel's fantasy ceiling if he is even ready to return by then. The 49ers might not have brought Samuel back in 2026 if not for all of their WR injuries early on. Before his hamstring injury in Week 5, Samuel saw plenty of opportunities, catching 16 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns in five games, adding nine carries for 78 yards on the ground. With Mike Evans (Achilles, rib) also out against Atlanta, the 49ers could be down to Christian Kirk (calf), Brandin Cooks, Jacob Cowing, and Jordan Watkins at the position.