Deebo Samuel

Deebo Samuel

28-Year-Old Wide ReceiverWR
San Francisco 49ers
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Samuel is a unique player, to say the least, arguably in his own league among wide receivers when it comes to breaking and avoiding tackles. He actually has more career touchdowns on the ground (14) than through the air (12), though he's also shown a high ceiling as a pass catcher with his 1,405-yard campaign in 2021. Last year he displayed many of the same skills but to much lesser effect, held back by injuries, San Francisco's QB issues and perhaps some inevitable regression from his absurd 2021 numbers (11.6 YPT, eight rushing TDs on 49 carries, etc.). He's also missed 15 games in four seasons, mostly due to lower-body, soft-tissue injuries, further contributing to a profile that makes him one of the riskiest players at his position. The 49ers still have major questions at QB, and there's a ton of competition for both targets and carries in an offense with WR Brandon Aiyuk, TE George Kittle and RBs Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell. If talent and skills were the only factors, Samuel would be ranked higher. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a three-year, $71.55 million contract with the 49ers in July of 2022.
Powers through injury in OT loss
WRSan Francisco 49ers
February 11, 2024
Samuel (hamstring) finished with three receptions (on 11 targets) for 33 yards while rushing three times for eight yards in Sunday's 25-22 overtime loss to the Chiefs.
ANALYSIS
Samuel went down clutching his hamstring early in the second half and had to miss roughly five minutes of game time while being examined on the sideline. The physical wideout eventually returned and got involved on a couple of short gains in the fourth quarter to help San Francisco keep its Lombardi hopes alive. Samuel's heroic effort was still not enough to topple the reigning champs after the 49ers fell to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl for the second time in five seasons. The 27-year-old produced strong results from a fantasy standpoint in 2023, scoring 12 total touchdowns while going over 1,000 yards from scrimmage for the second time as a pro. Samuel will have to lick his wounds this offseason before running it back with San Francisco for the second year of a three-year, $71.5 million contract extension that he signed in 2022.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Deebo Samuel's 2023 advanced stats compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Air Yards Per Game
42.3
 
Air Yards Per Snap
0.94
 
% Team Air Yards
16.8%
 
% Team Targets
19.0%
 
Avg Depth of Target
7.1 Yds
 
Catch Rate
67.4%
 
Drop Rate
4.5%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
9.0
 
% Targeted On Route
24.2%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
2.42
 
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2023
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2022 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
San Francisco 49ers49ers 2023 WR Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

88872%
73960%
41033%
21618%
17915%
14212%
454%
30%
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Deebo Samuel lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2023 Deebo Samuel Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Deebo Samuel's measurables compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 0"
 
Weight
215 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.48 sec
 
Shuttle Time
4.14 sec
 
Cone Drill
7.03 sec
 
Vertical Jump
39.0 in
 
Broad Jump
122 in
 
Bench Press
15 reps
 
Hand Length
10.00 in
 
Arm Length
31.38 in
 
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47 days ago
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
2019
The Niners fully unleashed Samuel last year, after injuries and a fluctuating role limited his impact his first two seasons. The 2019 second-round pick isn't a burner, but he's plenty fast (4.48 40) to get the job done while combining the size (6-0, 215) and ferocity of a running back with the route-running acumen of a veteran wideout. While it's the rushing work that makes him different, Samuel's biggest impact last year was actually chunk plays in the passing game, including five of 50-plus yards in the first two months. Coach Kyle Shanahan was rewarded for changing Samuel's role, again, with the wideout's aDOT rising from a freakishly low 2.2 in 2020 to a normal-ish 8.4 in 2021. He still got screens and shovel passes, but with more opportunities in the intermediate and deep areas as well. Then, in the second half of the year, Samuel played running back to help the team deal with injuries - a role he handled so well that it continued when Elijah Mitchell returned.
Foot and hamstring injuries cost Samuel the better part of 10 games last year, but on the rare occasion he did play, he looked like the rising star we saw during his rookie season. Samuel averaged 8.9 YPT on 44 targets and also carried the ball eight times for 26 yards, despite playing hurt. A stout 6-0, 215, with 4.48 speed, Samuel is a beast after the catch, breaking tackles and extending for extra yards. He also saw a heavy target share when he was finally healthy with 22 targets (and 17 catches) in Weeks 12-13. Samuel now returns to an unsettled quarterback situation. Oft-injured Jimmy Garoppolo enters training camp as the starter, though the Niners used the No. 3 overall pick (for which they paid dearly) to draft Trey Lance. Samuel will share looks with star tight end George Kittle and second-year man Brandon Aiyuk, but the 49ers’ lack of pass-catching depth could allow those three to combine for well over half the targets. Plus, Samuel had a unique role last year, mostly catching easy throws near the line of scrimmage (league-low 2.3 aDOT) and also taking eight carries. The QB-proof touches provide some protection if Garoppolo and Lance struggle.
Samuel started slowly as a rookie but took off in the season's second half, going 49-35-575-2 with 122 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Over a full season, that prorates to eight touchdowns and 1,394 yards from scrimmage. Samuel was also efficient. Despite eight drops, he managed 14.1 YPC and 9.9 YPT. He also saw a fair amount of red-zone use - 16 of his 81 targets were there, including seven from inside the 10. At 5-11, 214, Samuel has the physique of a running back and the ability to break tackles and get loose for big plays, given his 4.48 40 speed. In fact, coach Kyle Shanahan used Samuel in his running rotation, giving him 14 regular-season carries (three of which went for scores), plus six more totes in the postseason for 102 yards. Samuel should see more receiving work in Year 2 after the 49ers let Emmanuel Sanders walk via free agency, though the team used its first-round pick on the versatile and physical Brandon Aiyuk, who should serve as the deep threat. Jimmy Garoppolo showed he was no Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl, but he's competent enough to support a productive No. 1 receiver alongside Aiyuk and superstar tight end George Kittle, and few receivers will match Samuel's bonus production as a rusher. Unfortunately, Samuel suffered a broken foot while he was training in mid-June, requiring surgery and leaving him uncertain for Week 1. The injury, a Jones fracture, is fairly common among wide receivers, and the incidence of aggravation is much higher for players that rush back into action.
The 36th overall pick in this year's draft, Samuel could start opposite Dante Pettis out of the gate in what should be a productive Kyle Shanahan offense with a healthy Jimmy Garoppolo. At 5-11, 214, Samuel is stout, strong and plenty athletic with a 4.48 40 and 39-inch vertical. He's a strong route runner and dangerous in the open field after the catch, but he never reached 900 receiving yards in four seasons at South Carolina, limited by a mixture of injuries and poor quarterback play. Samuel is also on the old side for a rookie after turning 23 in January, so his physical development has likely maxed out already. He'll have to displace deep threat Marquise Goodwin, who's probably better suited to a situational role, among others, but Samuel's odds are good given his physical tools and draft slot.
More Fantasy News
Returns to Super Bowl
WRSan Francisco 49ers
February 11, 2024
Samuel (hamstring) returned to Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
ANALYSIS
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Suffers hamstring injury
WRSan Francisco 49ers
Hamstring
February 11, 2024
Samuel is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Chiefs due to a hamstring injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
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Nets 96 yards in NFCCG
WRSan Francisco 49ers
January 28, 2024
Samuel (shoulder) corralled eight of nine targets for 89 yards and rushed three times for seven yards in Sunday's 34-31 win over the Lions in the NFC Championship Game.
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Good to go Sunday
WRSan Francisco 49ers
January 26, 2024
Samuel (shoulder) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Lions after practicing fully Friday.
ANALYSIS
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To be limited Thursday
WRSan Francisco 49ers
Shoulder
January 25, 2024
Coach Kyle Shanahan said Samuel (shoulder) will be limited at Thursday's practice, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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