NFL trade rumors will continue to swirl as we approach the 2022 NFL Draft. Each year, veterans are moved for NFL Draft capital, and that has certainly been the case already in 2022. More moves could be on the horizon, as the latest top fantasy football and NFL player to make waves in the news is current San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Samuel has demanded a trade, and a move could shake the fantasy football landscape. Let’s take a look at the news and potential fantasy football impact of a Deebo Samuel trade.
Deebo Samuel requests trade from 49ers
In 16 games last season, Samuel caught 77 of his 121 targets for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns while also rushing 59 times for 365 yards and eight more touchdowns. Samuel is entering the final year of his rookie contract and had been discussing a contract extension with the 49ers recently, but the wide receiver reportedly called off the talks. Now, he appears to be interested in moving on. The 49ers do not have a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and are already somewhat thin at the wide receiver position after Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.
Potential Fantasy Football Impact of a Deebo Samuel Trade
Andrew Erickson shares the potential impact of a Deebo Samuel trade.
Deebo Samuel is coming off a career year that featured unsustainable accomplishments like three touchdowns of 75-plus yards, in addition to 365 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. His usage in the San Francisco 49ers offense was obviously great for fantasy, which is why I would be concerned about a new landing spot.
There’s no guarantee that Samuel sees a role — in fact very unlikely — or plays in one of the league’s most efficient offenses like the 49ers.
I’d look to sell Samuel based on the merits of fantasy managers more often than not looking at new situations for players through rose-colored glasses, when the facts of the matter detail the exact opposite approach. His long injury track record dating back to college should also not be overlooked nor his age (26).
Still, preferred landing spots would be either the Patriots or Texans — two teams that could use alpha WRs and have quarterbacks that can confidently get the ball in Samuel’s hands. Green Bay would be the ideal spot, with Samuel attached to Aaron Rodgers.
The Jets are the other team rumored to be in on Samuel, but I don’t like it nearly as much even with the familiarity of the coaching staff.
Buy/Sell/Hold?
- Sell
Erickson’s Preferred Landing Spots for Deebo Samuel
- Patriots, Texans, Packers
Erickson’s Landing Spot That Could Negatively Impact Samuel’s Value
- Jets
Derek Brown sees things a bit differently as he lays out his projected fantasy football impact of a trade involving Samuel.
Last year Deebo Samuel proved that when healthy is among the best wide receivers in the NFL. He was second among all wide receivers in yards per route run, first in YAC per reception, and second in missed tackles forced (minimum 50 targets, per PFF). In Weeks 1-9, before San Francisco deployed him in the “wide back” role with only six rushing attempts total, he was the WR4 in fantasy scoring. Over that stretch, he was second in target share (33.1%) and fourth in weighted opportunity among wideouts.
Regardless of his potential trade landing spot, he should still be ranked as a top 12 wide receiver in redraft. Any team acquiring his services will likely tack on a shiny new long-term contract commiserate with the number one role that he will be expected to take on. Dynasty is a little different subject. Currently, he’s my WR12 in dynasty. At the age of 26, his health was already a concern. Since 2019 he’s dealt with a groin strain, hamstring strain, foot fracture, and shoulder sprain, which forced him to miss 11 games. Depending on the offense and new quarterback he’s tied to in his next destination with the added health worries, I could see his dynasty ranking dropping a tad but not outside the top 17-20 wide receivers.
Buy/Sell/Hold?
- Hold
DBro’s Preferred Landing Spots for Deebo Samuel
- Jets, Packers
DBro’s Landing Spot That Could Negatively Impact Samuel’s Value
- Texans, Jaguars
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