DeeboSamuel Sr.

News: 9 hours agoSamuel had just one reception for 21 yards off four targets in Sunday's 38-10 loss to the Packers.

Spin: Samuel was already in a midseason slump entering Sunday's loss, but a backup quarterback under center made a bounce-back effort less likely. The dual-threat superstar also failed to record a rushing attempt for the first time in a full game this season. Samuel has underperformed this season with just 590 combined yards and two total touchdowns through 10 games. Brock Purdy's (shoulder) potential return in Week 13 would boost Samuel's projections heading into a tough road matchup in Buffalo next Sunday.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: The 49ers are flush with talent, making each player's volume difficult to predict on a weekly basis. Christian McCaffrey's arrival, however, appears to have had the biggest impact on Samuel, whose rushing opportunities have dwindled from 3.7 per game in 2021 to 2.5 per contest in 2023. Still, the wideback continued to produce for fantasy managers, thriving in the red area of the field with a team-leading number of red zone looks (17) and 12 total TDs (WR4). While durability is a concern, Samuel's versatile usage and overall efficiency provide him with a sky-high ceiling. Target him as a WR2.