San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. will bring the least productive five-game stretch of his career into a Week 16 matchup in Miami on Sunday. He is averaging 3.3 half-PPR points over that stretch, including a 3.4-point performance last Thursday at home versus the Los Angeles Rams. Samuel Sr. reached a low point when he dropped an important 3rd-down pass in LA territory to a chorus of boos from the home fans. He'll have better days ahead -- he's certainly a better player than this -- but at this point, Samuel Sr. is untrustable in fantasy. In addition, Miami's tough pass defense has limited fantasy receivers to the second-lowest total in the league. Perhaps Samuel Sr. sees an increase in carries, with the 49ers down to their fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-string running backs due to a deluge of injuries. It might not matter much, though, as he's only averaging 2.7 yards per carry this year with one rushing touchdown, way back in Week 1. He's projected as a WR4 this week, and most Samuel Sr. managers still in the fantasy playoffs probably benched him long ago.
Deebo Samuel Sr. Drops Game-Changing Pass, Continues Slump Vs. Rams
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. had his woes continue during a 12-6 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. The frustrated former Gamecock caught three of seven targets for 16 yards and took two carries for three yards. Not every unfulfilled target was Samuel Sr.'s fault, but one certainly was. With the game tied midway through the third quarter on a 3rd-and-10 just outside the red zone, Samuel Sr. dropped a wide-open pass on a crossing pattern which would have been a certain first down, and perhaps a touchdown. It doesn't get much cringier than that after he complained about his usage on social media early in the week. Samuel Sr. will carry an average of 4.7 half-PPR points over his last five games into a matchup in Week 16 versus one of the toughest defenses against wide receivers in Miami.
Deebo Samuel Sr. A Dicey Flex Option In Week 15 Versus Rams
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. 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 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'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. The Rams have been a top-10 matchup for opposing wideouts, but it will be hard to trust Samuel in fantasy playoff lineups. He's a back-end WR3, at best, in Week 15.
Deebo Samuel Sr. Flops Again In 38-13 Rout Of Chicago
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.
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.
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.
Deebo Samuel Sr. A Shaky WR3 In Week 13 At Buffalo
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.
Deebo Samuel Sr. Has One Catch In Blowout Loss At Lambeau
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.
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.
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.
Deebo Samuel Sr.
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49ers
