Deebo Samuel appears to be in great shape and has looked smooth early
by Robert Lorge | 49ers Correspondent | Thu, Jul 29th 11:10pm EDT
Deebo Samuel has been impressive to start training camp. He looks healthier and leaner than he's been and the results have been visible. (Nick Wagoner on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact:
Last season showcased some concerning trends in regards to Samuel's 2021 fantasy prospects. His average depth of target was only 2.2 yards, which is very problematic. He also had 401 yards after the catch, but only 391 receiving yards, a statistic that doesn't even seem real. That said, he averaged 2.37 yards per route run, which was 9th among qualifying receivers and tends to be a predictive statistic for fantasy success. The two-year pro was primarily used as a short-yardage target last season, as evidenced by the stats above. That drastically limited his fantasy scoring output. Samuel appears to have been leap-frogged by Brandon Aiyuk in the pecking order, which is a concerning thing of note considering the limited passing volume in San Francisco who tend to be more of a run-heavy team vs. the league average. However, at his current ADP of WR38, a lot of the risks are already accounted for. Kyle Shanahan is one of the better offensive minds in the league and routinely gets the most of his players. Last season, the running back group struggled to stay healthy and a similar trend has already begun with Jeff Wilson out for several months and Raheem Mostert wearing a knee brace. If the offense is forced to lean on the passing game, Samuel could easily provide value at his current cost. While there are some concerning trends from the last season, at his current price, Samuel is a worthwhile addition to any fantasy roster as their WR4.
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