I like that Samuel is upset about his role, and hopefully there's a squeaky wheel game coming in Week 15 against the Rams. With more injuries at running back, Samuel could get some additional carries, and he had five carries for only 13 yards in Week 14 against Chicago. Samuel has one receiving and one rushing touchdown this season, and he hasn't scored since Week 6. He also has five targets or less in three games in a row, and he's been held to 22 receiving yards or less in four consecutive outings. I would only consider using Samuel in three-receiver leagues in Week 15.
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: May be time to worry
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Samuel secured two of three targets for 22 yards while adding 13 rushing yards on five attempts in Sunday's 38-13 rout of the Bears.
Samuel was seemingly the only key member of the 49ers not to wake up in Sunday's landslide victory over the lowly Bears. The dual-threat star couldn't get anything going on the ground while George Kittle (6-151-0) and Jauan Jennings (7-90-2) did all the work in the passing game. Samuel is currently mired in a four-game slump that has resulted in 22 or fewer receiving yards in each contest during that span. This Thursday's crucial matchup against the Rams -- who just gave up 42 points in a win over the Bills -- is a prime opportunity for Samuel to look like his former self. If he turns in yet another stinker, managers may have to consider what was once unthinkable -- benching the star player due to poor performance as many fantasy leagues enter the playoffs.
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: WRs to Sit
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I'm hopeful Samuel will take on a bigger role in the backfield with Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) out, but he only has 27 carries for 79 yards on the season with one touchdown, which came in Week 1. He's also caught one touchdown all year, which was in Week 6, and he's combined for nine catches for 63 yards on 16 targets in his past three games. The Bears are also No. 3 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, so it's tough to trust Samuel even in three-receiver leagues in Week 14.
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: Gains 20 yards on four catches
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Samuel pulled in four of his five targets for 20 yards with a lost fumble in Sunday's 35-10 defeat at the hands of the Bills. He did not record a rushing attempt in the blowout loss. Samuel also tallied 208 yards on six kick returns.
Samuel essentially put up a bagel in non-PPR formats after coughing up his first fumble of the season while netting just 20 yards for fantasy managers. A snowstorm played a role in the marginal numbers from the West Coast based franchise, but Samuel was already mired in a midseason slump prior to Sunday's dud. Samuel's most impressive work Sunday came in the return game, as he logged kickoff returns of 60 and 43 yards in the third quarter. With Christian McCaffrey (knee) going down to injury fresh off his lengthy IR stint, Samuel should remain a spotlight player on offense for a team missing some key players ahead of next week's home tilt against the Bears.
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: WRs to Sit
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We don't know if Brock Purdy (shoulder) is going to play in Week 13 at Buffalo, and the weather for this game could be problematic for San Francisco with snow in the forecast. Samuel has also struggled of late with a combined 9.2 PPR points in his past two games against Seattle and Green Bay, and this feels like a bad setup for him against the Bills, who are No. 8 in fewest Fantasy points allowed against opposing receivers. I would only start Samuel in three-receiver leagues in Week 13.
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: Contrarian DFS Play
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Samuel's price and roster rate are falling. While I strongly suggest his teammate in cash games, he's exactly the type of player I want to play in a high-scoring game at a low roster rate. I have no doubt he still has the weekly upside to give you 100 total yards and two touchdowns.
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: Suiting up in Week 10
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Samuel (rib/oblique) is active for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay, Lindsey Pallares of the 49ers' official site reports.
Samuel sustained oblique and rib strains in the 49ers' last game Sunday, Oct. 27 against the Cowboys, and following a Week 9 bye, he was able to string together three consecutive limited practices, receiving a questionable tag for Week 10 in the process. Overnight Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Samuel was expected to play Sunday, which has come to pass. Samuel will be welcoming back premier running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) for the first time this season, a scenario that may open up the entire offense for San Francisco. In seven appearances without McCaffrey this season, Samuel has averaged 6.7 touches for 67.4 yards from scrimmage per game while scoring two total TDs.
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: In line to suit up Sunday
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Samuel (oblique/rib), who is officially questionable for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers due to an oblique injury, is expected to play, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Samuel suffered oblique and rib and strains Oct. 27 against Dallas prior to San Francisco's Week 9 bye and logged a trio of limited practices this week. Despite the injuries, the wideout looks like he'll be able to suit up against Tampa Bay on Sunday. Samuel has notched multiple carries out of the backfield in all but one of his seven contests this season, but he could be asked to do less in that regard given his injuries along with the expected return of star running back Christian McCaffrey, who is on track to make his season debut after missing the team's first eight contests due to Achilles tendinitis.
Samuel (oblique/rib) is questionable for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay, Lindsey Pallares of the 49ers' official site reports.
Coming out of a Week 9 bye, Samuel was a limited practice participant the past few days but partook without a non-contact jersey Friday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports. Samuel seems more likely than not to play, but fantasy managers would still be wise to stay tuned and make sure Samuel's name isn't on the inactive list ahead of a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday. Fellow 49ers wideout Chris Conley (ankle) has been ruled out, while Jauan Jennings (hip) is set to return.
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: Will be limited Wednesday
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Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Samuel (oblique/ribs) will be a limited participant at Wednesday's practice, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
In the 49ers' last game Oct. 27 versus the Cowboys, Samuel exited early with a rib injury, with Shanahan relaying a day later that the wideout was tending to both rib and oblique strains. With a Week 9 bye to rest up, Samuel will ease into Week 10 prep and have two more chances to log a full practice before potentially entering the weekend with a designation for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay.
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: Suiting up in Week 8
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Samuel (illness) is listed as active Sunday against the Cowboys, Lindsey Pallares of the 49ers' official site reports.
One week removed from logging just four offensive snaps due to an illness that eventually was determined to be pneumonia and prompted a stay in the hospital, Samuel will be available to San Francisco's offense Week 8. With Brandon Aiyuk (knee) out for the season and Jauan Jennings (hip) sidelined for a second contest in a row, Samuel and TE George Kittle (foot) likely will serve as the top pass catchers for QB Brock Purdy on Sunday.
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: Expected to play Sunday
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Samuel (illness) remains listed as questionable but is likely to suit up in Sunday's game against the Cowboys, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
Samuel played only four snaps last Sunday against Kansas City and was hospitalized after the loss due to a bout of pneumonia. He didn't practice Wednesday but finished the week with a pair of limited sessions to set himself up to play Sunday. His ability to take the field against Dallas could be huge for a passing game that will be without Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and Jauan Jennings (hip).
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: Receives Week 8 questionable tag
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Samuel (illness) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Samuel took the field for just four plays in this past Sunday's loss to the Chiefs before he was sent to the hospital due to a case of pneumonia. He was discharged Tuesday, returned to practice Thursday as a limited participant and was back on the practice field again Friday, which increases the hope that Samuel might be ready to play Sunday. Per Matt Barrows of The Athletic, head coach Kyle Shanahan said that the 49ers have been taking things slowly with Samuel since he returned to practice, but the wideout's stamina has improved with each passing day. The 49ers presumably will check in on Samuel's condition early Sunday before making a call on his status, but if he suits up, the 28-year-old could be in line for a focal role in the San Francisco passing game. In addition to wideout Brandon Aiyuk (knee) being out for the season, the 49ers have ruled out receiver Jauan Jennings for Week 8, while tight end George Kittle (foot) is listed as questionable.
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: Limited in return to practice
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Samuel (wrist/illness) was limited at Thursday's practice, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
After logging only four snaps on offense this past Sunday against the Chiefs due to an illness, coach Kyle Shanahan revealed Monday that the wide receiver was diagnosed with pneumonia and in the hospital. Samuel was discharged Tuesday, and just two days later he was back on the practice field with a cap on his reps. The 49ers are giving him a chance to play Sunday versus the Cowboys, but Friday's injury report ultimately will reveal whether or not he goes into the weekend with a designation for that contest.
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: Spotted at Thursday's practice
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Samuel (illness) was present at the open portion of Thursday's practice, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Samuel managed just four offensive snaps during this past Sunday's loss to the Chiefs with what eventually was deemed to be pneumonia, which forced a stay in the hospital. He was discharged Tuesday and was spotted running and doing some conditioning work on the side at Wednesday's session, per Wagoner. While Samuel went down as a non-participant, his return to the practice field Thursday generally is a good sign that he's trending in the right direction ahead of Sunday's game versus the Cowboys.
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: Has pneumonia, lacks return timeline
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Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Samuel has been diagnosed with pneumonia and doesn't have a timeline for when he'll be available again, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Samuel attempted to play through an illness Sunday against the Chiefs but ultimately was limited to four offensive snaps before he was ruled out after halftime. Shanahan also relayed that Samuel is in the hospital, and with Brandon Aiyuk suffering season-ending ACL and MCL tears in his right knee Sunday, Jauan Jennings tending to a hip issue and Chris Conley sustaining a sprained ankle Week 7, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing and Ronnie Bell are the healthy options at wide receiver for the 49ers at the moment.
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: Out with illness
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Samuel has been ruled out of Sunday's contest versus the Chiefs due to an illness, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Prior to Sunday's kickoff, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reported that Samuel was dealing with an illness but was expected to attempt to play through it. However, after only a sprinkling of snaps early in the contest, Samuel remained on the sideline and eventually walked to the locker room slowly in the second quarter. After halftime, Samuel, along with Brandon Aiyuk (knee), was ruled out, leaving Chris Conley, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing and Ronnie Bell as the 49ers' available healthy wide receivers, with Jauan Jennings (hip) inactive.
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: Cleared for Super Bowl rematch
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Samuel (wrist) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
One of the toughest wide receivers in the league, Samuel never figured to miss a Super Bowl rematch (2x) with a wrist injury. He even shed his non-contact jersey at Friday's practice, and there could be a bit more weight placed on him and Brandon Aiyuk in the absence of No. 3 receiver Jauan Jennings, who was ruled out Friday with a hip injury.
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: Eclipses century mark in win
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Samuel brought in three of five targets for 102 yards and a touchdown, rushed four times for 15 yards and returned two kickoffs for 52 yards in the 49ers' 36-24 win over the Seahawks on Thursday night.
Samuel was coming off a disappointing one-catch, 11-yard performance against the Cardinals four days earlier, but his 76-yard touchdown reception early in the second quarter ensured he'd have a much better fantasy night Thursday. Samuel would end up adding another two grabs for 26 yards, allowing him to narrowly post his second 100-yard effort of the campaign. Samuel's rush-attempt total was also his highest since Week 1, and he could be even busier in a Week 7 home showdown against the Chiefs on Sunday, Oct. 20.
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49ers' Deebo Samuel: WRs to Start
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I'm starting a pair of 49ers this week with Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, and this should be the first time where both of San Francisco's top receivers go off. Samuel scored at least 18 PPR points in his first two games of the season before missing Week 3 with a calf injury. He returned in Week 4 and scored just 10.2 PPR points against New England, but I'm expecting him to get back to his dominant ways in Week 5. He has scored at least 21 PPR points in two of his past four meetings with the Cardinals. Aiyuk has scored at least 16 PPR points in three of his past five games with Arizona, and hopefully this matchup gets him going. Aiyuk has yet to score even 10 PPR points in any game this year. Both 49ers receivers have top-20 upside this week.
