Press Enter to send · Shift+Enter for a new line
Deebo Samuel
WR · SF

Deebo Samuel

Position WR
Team SF
Bye Week —
PPR Rank —

Deebo Samuel

NFL player. Position: WR. Team: San Francisco 49ers.

Quick Facts

  • Position: WR
  • Team: San Francisco 49ers
  • Age: 30

2026 Outlook

Signed with San Francisco 49ers on one-year deal (up to $7M) after Commanders declined to re-sign him. Returns to the offense where he had his best NFL seasons (2021 All-Pro year: 1,770 scrimmage yards, 14 TDs). Now positioned as de facto WR2 after Ricky Pearsall was placed on season-ending IR with a recurring PCL injury (8/1) requiring surgery and a projected 6-12 month recovery. Samuel gets meaningful opportunity alongside Mike Evans and tight end George Kittle in Kyle Shanahan's scheme. At 30, Samuel is a rotational receiver and multi-purpose threat rather than a featured WR1, but Pearsall's absence removes competition and elevates his role. Unlike new signings, Samuel avoids the learning curve — he's fluent in Shanahan's playbook from his 2019-2024 tenure with the 49ers and can contribute immediately (per 49ers WR Ricky Pearsall to be placed on season-ending IR with PCL injury and Reunited: 49ers to sign Deebo Samuel as injuries mount at receiver).

Week 5 hamstring injury impacts depth calculations (Oct 13-15): Samuel's Week 5 hamstring injury exposes the fragility of the 49ers' pass-catching corps. With Samuel out and Kyle Juszczyk sidelined, the offense is now heavily reliant on McCaffrey (RB), Kittle, and Evans for production, leaving only marginal options in Jacob Cowing (5 targets, 1 catch) and Jordan Watkins (60 yards on 2 receptions). Samuel's absence forces McCaffrey to assume a heavier passing-game workload, and sustainability concerns mount if the three primary targets face injuries or regression. As of Oct 15, Samuel remains out of the mix and unavailable for the next game (per Deebo Samuel Injury Exposes Bigger Problem for 49ers and 49ers mailbag: Stacking wins, eyeing trades, name-checking opponents).

Week 3 historic performance (Sept 28): Samuel made NFL history with an unprecedented stat line: 80 receiving yards and 1 TD without catching a pass. On the opening drive against Arizona, Brock Purdy threw to Mike Evans, who lateraled to Samuel at midfield. Samuel raced to the end zone for the TD and 80 receiving yards—breaking Timmy Brown's 1961 record of 65 receiving yards without a catch. The play showcases Samuel's versatility and explosiveness in Shanahan's creative play-calling (per Deebo Samuel makes NFL history with 0 catches for 80 receiving yards and 1 TD).

49ers plan to deploy Samuel in multiple roles: WR, running back, and return specialist. GM Lynch confirmed Samuel will see snaps across all three roles, maximizing his touches in an offense short on depth after Pearsall's season-ending injury (per WR Deebo Samuel will also play running back and return kicks in second 49ers stint). August 3 training camp assessment from Lynch: "It's like he didn't miss a beat... He's looked fantastic" (per 49ers GM John Lynch on receiver situation and injuries).

Week 1 performance (Sept 14): Samuel ran approximately 50% of San Francisco's routes against the Rams (the season opener), catching 6 of 7 targets for 48 yards and 1 TD, plus adding 12 receiving yards on his sole rushing attempt. The early snap share and target volume validate the offseason projection that Samuel would absorb a meaningful role following Pearsall's injury. With De'Zhaun Stribling's season-ending ankle injury on the opening drive, Samuel's opportunity expands further as the 49ers' most-available receiver after Mike Evans. (per 2026 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Top Adds, Stashes and Streamers for Week 2 - San Diego Union-Tribune)

Aug 28 roster confirmation — Multi-position flexibility: The 49ers' 53-man roster projection confirms Samuel's critical role in solving positional depth issues. His ability to play running back alongside receiving duties helps the team carry just four backs (McCaffrey, James, Black, Juszczyk) instead of the typical five, preserving roster flexibility elsewhere. This multi-position utility elevates Samuel's snap share and targets in 2026, making him more valuable than a traditional WR2. (per 49ers 53-man roster projection: Where position battles stand ahead of cutdown day - The San Francisco Standard).

By August 9, HC Kyle Shanahan underscored the importance of Samuel's role replacement: "Losing Ricky was a real big deal... no one here is wired exactly how Ricky is... You do lose a big part of what we were planning on and that's where guys do have to step up." Samuel also sent a supportive message to Pearsall: "Just keep your head up, man. Your time's coming." Samuel's return to San Francisco eliminates the learning curve and positions him to absorb a meaningful target share in 2026 (per 49ers' Kyle Shanahan Gets Blunt on Ricky Pearsall Injury).

Week 5 hamstring injury (Oct 11): Samuel left the Week 5 game against Seattle in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. He was ruled out for the remainder of the contest after recording just 2 catches for 21 yards on the day. The injury occurred on a rushing play off left tackle, suggesting that his multi-position versatility may also put him at risk. A hamstring at age 30 raises durability concerns for the remainder of the season (per Deebo Samuel injury update as 49ers WR hurts hamstring in game vs. Seahawks).

Role / Depth Chart

WR2 for 49ers in 2026, contingent on hamstring recovery. After Pearsall's season-ending PCL injury in August, Stribling and Tonges' Week 1 injuries further thin San Francisco's receiving corps, making Samuel one of the few healthy offensive options when available. He remains a rotational receiver and multi-purpose threat in Kyle Shanahan's offense, but his Week 5 hamstring injury creates uncertainty around his target share alongside Mike Evans (WR1) and George Kittle (TE). His usage across multiple positions (receiver, running back, return specialist) should elevate given the depth losses, but injury timing will determine actual production. (per 'Really Tough Loss,' 'More Substation Casualties' — NFL Fans React to Devastating De'Zhaun Stribling Injury Update for 49ers - Yahoo Sports and Deebo Samuel injury update as 49ers WR hurts hamstring in game vs. Seahawks)

Injury Status

Hamstring injury (Week 5, 2026-10-11): Samuel left the 49ers' Week 5 game vs. Seahawks with a hamstring injury in the third quarter and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest. Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the early rulout is a concerning sign; for "fast-twitch guys who need to run like Deebo needs to run," hamstring injuries generally require "several weeks" of recovery. RotoWire's injury analysis confirms Samuel is expected to miss "at least a couple of weeks," meaning he could be sidelined through Week 7 at minimum. The good news for the 49ers: they have a Week 8 bye, which means if Samuel can return in 3-4 weeks, he'd miss only 2-3 games before the bye and avoid being placed on injured reserve. The 49ers will lean more heavily on Mike Evans and Brandin Cooks during his absence. (per 49ers get worrying Deebo Samuel update from NFL insider amid hamstring injury and NFL Injury Report & Analysis).

Recent News

Open Questions

  • Will Deebo Samuel maintain his flex value with limited target share, or does receiving a boost from Pearsall's injury push him into WR2 territory?
  • How will Kyle Shanahan balance Samuel's usage between traditional receiving routes and manufactured touches/runs?

Sources

Coaches shaping Deebo's role

Kyle ShanahanHead CoachKlay KubiakOffensive CoordinatorJerry GrayDefensive Passing Game CoordinatorLeonard HankersonPassing Game Coordinator/Wide ReceiversAndrew Hayes-StokerOffensive Assistant/Wide ReceiversChris FoersterAssistant Head Coach/Offensive LineRoman SapoluAssistant Offensive Line

What the Experts Are Saying

Matt HarmonMike Evans Is A Bad Man
Flock FantasyWeek 6 Rankings & Tiers (QB, TE, DST)
The Fantasy Headliners🔥 NEW TOP 36 WR RANKINGS for Week 6 Fantasy Football 🚀 | Fantasy Football Rankings