Samuel got off to a hot start in 2022, but he cooled off down the stretch. This season, Samuel has minimal Fantasy value coming into the season, and he's only worth drafting with a late-round pick in all leagues. Last year, Samuel scored at least 12 PPR points in six of his first nine games, but he was at nine PPR points or less in six of his final eight outings. And in his lone start with Sam Howell in Week 18 against Dallas, Samuel had one catch for minus-2 yards on one target. There is a chance Samuel could be a gadget weapon for new offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy, but that doesn't mean Samuel will post consistent production. The best-case scenario for Samuel is he starts off playing well like he did in 2022, and then you can add him off the waiver wire.
Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Sits out walk-through practice
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Samuel was listed as a non-participant on Monday's estimated practice report with a quadricep injury.
Samuel might have picked up the injury in the Commanders' 34-31 overtime loss to the Eagles on Sunday, when he played 52 snaps on offense and finished with seven catches for 51 yards and a one-yard touchdown run. The Commanders held a walk-through session Monday, so Samuel's activity in practice sessions Tuesday and Wednesday will be more telling with regard to his status for Thursday's game against the Bears.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Gets into end zone against Philly
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Samuel caught seven of eight targets for 51 yards and scored a one-yard touchdown on his lone carry in Sunday's 34-31 overtime loss to the Eagles.
The grabs and targets were season highs for Samuel, but his first score of the year came on a jet sweep at the goal line in the first quarter. Samuel has been a steady contributor in the Washington passing game so far, topping 50 receiving yards in three of four games, and he stands a good chance of being productive again in Week 5 against the Bears.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Team-high receiving yardage in loss
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Samuel brought in two of four targets for 54 yards in the Commanders' 37-3 loss to the Bills on Sunday.
Samuel tallied a team-high receiving yardage total with the help of a game-long 37-yard reception. The versatile veteran continues to hold down a complementary role in the Commanders' air attack, having posted a 10-127 line through three games while adding a pair of rushes for 19 yards. However, given his similar offensive profile to other players that enjoyed success in coordinator Eric Bienemy's Chiefs offenses over the years, Samuel's role could certainly expand as the season unfolds.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Good to go for Sunday
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Samuel (illness) was removed from the injury report Saturday and will play Sunday against the Bills.
Samuel didn't practice Friday due to an illness, but the 27-year-old appears to be fine entering Sunday's contest against the Bills. The veteran didn't get as much work in the Week 2 win over the Broncos (three catches, 19 yards), but he's been a reliable option for quarterback Sam Howell and does pose a speed threat that the Commanders sorely need. Expect Samuel to play around his customary 40-45 snaps in what could be a high-scoring affair.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Dealing with illness at end of week
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Samuel missed Friday's practice because of an illness and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Buffalo, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.
The same goes for safety Kam Curl, who is arguably more important to Washington's defense than Samuel is to the offense. His role as the No. 3 receiver and occasional ballcarrier does have value, of course, though perhaps more so for real life than fantasy. Samuel has eight targets, two carries and 92 total yards through two weeks, playing 63 percent of snaps in Washington offense that has nine players with at least three targets and none with more than 12. An absence this Sunday for Samuel likely would mean more snaps for No. 4 receiver Dyami Brown, especially with TE Logan Thomas (concussion) already ruled out. It might also free up more slot work for Jahan Dotson and Terry McLaurin, a duo that's surprisingly accounted for only 35 percent of the team target total so far.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Held to 32 total yards
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Samuel caught each of his three targets for 19 yards and took one carry for 13 yards in a 35-33 win over the Broncos on Sunday.
Samuel got a bit less playing time than Week 1, mostly because the Commanders had a lead in the second half and used some multi-TE formations. He ran a route on 63 percent of Sam Howell's dropbacks and was one of nine Commanders to draw multiple targets on a day when Terry McLaurin's six represented the team high. Samuel and Co. will face another veteran-laden secondary Week 3 when the Commanders host Buffalo.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Good to go for Week 2
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Samuel (hip) will play Sunday in Denver, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.
Samuel was a limited practice participant throughout the week, with head coach Ron Rivera confirming Friday that the wide receiver will play through a minor injury Sunday. The 27-year-old missed most of his first season in Washington with injuries but then played all 17 games in 2022 and now finds himself in the final year of his three-year contract. He was Washington's No. 3 receiver in terms of playing time during a 20-16 win over Arizona in Week 1, though he finished with a team-high 54 receiving yards from five targets on a rough day for Sam Howell, Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. The possibility of Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain shadowing McLaurin on Sunday could perhaps help direct more touches toward Samuel and Dotson.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Remains limited at practice
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Samuel (hip) practiced in a limited fashion Thursday.
Samuel continued to have a cap on his on-field reps as the Commanders make their way through Week 2 prep. He now has just one more opportunity to get back to all activity before the team potentially gives him a designation for Sunday's game at Denver. If Samuel is limited or out this weekend, Dyami Brown likely would be the biggest beneficiary behind Washington's top WR duo of Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Tending to hip issue
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Samuel was a limited practice participant Wednesday due to a hip injury.
Samuel is no stranger to health concerns since entering the league in 2017, playing 76 of a possible 99 games in his career. He was able to log a full 17-game slate in 2022 on his way to a 64-656-4 receiving line on 92 targets while also chipping in 187 rushing yards and a score on the ground. Samuel kicked off the current campaign this past Sunday against the Cardinals by hauling in all five targets for 54 yards and gaining six yards on his lone carry. Samuel's health will need to be monitored ahead of a Week 2 road matchup with the Broncos this Sunday.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Week 2 Waiver Priority List
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Samuel isn't going away despite sharing the field with Jahan Dotson and Terry McLaurin, and he could be a cheap starter in deep PPR leagues. In Week 1 against Arizona, Samuel had five catches for 54 yards on five targets, which tied for the team lead. He also added one carry for 6 yards. Samuel is worth adding for 1 percent of your FAB heading into Week 2 at Denver.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Week 16 Waiver Priority List
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Samuel isn't going away despite sharing the field with Jahan Dotson and Terry McLaurin, and he could be a cheap starter in deep PPR leagues. In Week 1 against Arizona, Samuel had five catches for 54 yards on five targets, which tied for the team lead. He also added one carry for 6 yards. Samuel is worth adding for 1 percent of your FAB heading into Week 2 at Denver.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Leading receiver in win
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Samuel caught all five of his targets for 54 yards in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Cardinals.
The veteran receiver led the Commanders in receiving yards while tying Jahan Dotson for the lead in catches on a fairly quiet day overall for the passing game. Samuel is No. 3 on the depth chart behind Dotson and Terry McLaurin, which will likely limit his volume and ceiling as the season progresses, but new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy's scheme could keep all three wideouts involved in a Week 2 meeting with the Broncos.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Quiet in full half of play
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Samuel caught his lone target for 11 yards in Monday's preseason matchup with Baltimore.
It wasn't the most encouraging performance given that Washington's starters played the entire first half and Sam Howell attempted 25 passes. Of course, it's a small sample against backup defenders in a preseason game, and by most measures Samuel looks like one of the better No. 3 receivers in the league. Fellow wideouts Jahan Dotson and Terry McLaurin combined for eight catches and 115 yards on 10 targets, though McLaurin did exit early with a toe injury that doesn't initially appear to be too serious. It's also worth noting that Dyami Brown got a decent amount of run with the first-team offense, including a 16-yard TD, though that doesn't necessarily mean he'll chip into Samuel's playing time come Week 1 against Arizona.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Finishes season with whimper
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Samuel lost six yards on two touches in Sunday's 26-6 win over Dallas.
Samuel's second year in Washington went much better than the first, as he played more than half the offensive snaps in all 17 games after taking only 84 snaps total the year before while plagued by lower-body injuries. His healthy 2022 started with averages of 9.0 targets and 66.4 total yards over the first five weeks, before he shifted to a more ground-based role after Carson Wentz was benched and averaged 4.3 targets and 3.5 carries over an eight-game stretch Weeks 7-15. Samuel was less involved at the very end, however, managing three touches for a net of zero yards over the last two weeks, and he could be released or traded this offseason now that Washington's WR room appears in good hands with Terry McLaurin and 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson. The team may look to move on from the 26-year-old Samuel, whose non-guaranteed $10.2 million base salary in 2023 would make him one of the most expensive No. 3 receivers in the league.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Gets one touch
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Samuel caught one of two targets for six yards in Sunday's 24-10 loss to Cleveland.
Samuel's best stretch of the season came with Carson Wentz playing quarterback in September, but things went different in Wentz's return to the starting role. The Commanders might even turn back to Taylor Heinicke for Week 18 against Dallas, though it'll be hard to trust Samuel in any scenario after he averaged only 4.3 targets per game in Heinicke's nine starts. Samuel did at least get 3.2 carries for 15.6 yards in those games, whereas Sunday's loss marked his first outing without a rush since the last time Wentz started (Week 6).
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Catches TD in loss
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Samuel caught all five of his targets for 52 yards and a touchdown while rushing once for two yards in Saturday's 37-20 loss to San Francisco.
Samuel was stymied on the ground for the second week in a row, but he offset that with his first receiving touchdown since Week 9. The Commanders' slot man has been a sneaky fantasy asset in 2022 with his unique mix of receiving and rushing numbers -- 843 combined yards and five touchdowns -- a skillset that vaguely resembles a player on the 49ers' roster who shares the same last name. Samuel will look to continue his hot play against the Browns on New Year's Day.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Gains 45 yards on eight touches
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Samuel caught three of five targets for 44 yards and rushed five times for one yard in Sunday's 20-12 loss to the Giants.
Samuel's five rushing attempts tied his previous season high, but the one rushing yard was his worst total with an attempt through 14 games. The Giants were able to snuff out the versatile wideout's designed runs, perhaps studying the Commanders' tendencies from their recent matchup two weeks ago. Samuel was effective as a receiver, and he has 107 yards over his last two games after totaling just 28 receiving yards over his previous three. Washington draws a tough matchup against San Francisco on Saturday, so Samuel's fringe fantasy value takes a hit in Week 16.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: Posts 86 total yards in tie
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Samuel brought in six of seven targets for 63 yards and rushed three times for 23 yards in the Commanders' 20-20 tie with the Giants on Sunday.
Samuel checked in second in receptions and receiving yards on the afternoon while logging the third-most targets. The versatile wideout's afternoon was his busiest in terms of total touches since Week 7, while his receiving yardage total was his third-highest of the campaign. Samuel gets another crack at the Giants defense in Week 15 following Washington's Week 14 bye.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: WRs to Sit
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Samuel went from someone you can use as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in most leagues on a weekly basis to someone you should probably cut. He's been at nine PPR points or less for three games in a row, and he didn't have a target in Week 12 against Atlanta. He also has just six targets for three catches, 38 yards and no touchdowns in his past three games combined. The Commanders will probably run a lot against the Giants and limit the targets for Samuel again, and the Giants have also allowed the fourth-fewest Fantasy points to receivers this season.
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Commanders' Curtis Samuel: No targets, only carries in win
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Samuel wasn't targeted in Sunday's 19-13 win over Atlanta, finishing with four carries for 13 yards on a season-low 60 percent of snaps.
Samuel had season lows for targets and snap share the week before and went even lower against Atlanta, though he did take multiple carries for a fifth time in the past six games. He's seen four or fewer targets in five straight now, with his new role perhaps more conducive to team success but doing no favors for his fantasy value. While useful in real life as a dual threat, Samuel can't be relied on for much in fantasy at this point as the Commanders prepare for a Week 13 game against the Giants and then a late bye in Week 14.
