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2020 was a breakout season for Curtis Samuel. 2021 — not so much.
Samuel turned his 2020 campaign into a $34.5 million contract with the Washington Football Team, but he did not provide one ounce of bang for the buck. He suited up for five games, caught six passes for 27 yards, and ran four times for 11 additional yards. Another Samuel, San Francisco’s Deebo, needed just one play to double Curtis’ yardage total last year.
So this Samuel is probably not ranked highly on draft lists and cheat sheets heading into the 2022 NFL season. There is reason to think he could be a stud sleeper who can help fantasy managers steal some wins and league titles this season, however. Here is why Samuel is someone who should not be overlooked in the late rounds of your drafts this week:
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Versatility and Contract
Top target Terry McLaurin will get the most looks from new starting signal caller Carson Wentz. That leaves Samuel to battle it out with first-round pick Jahan Dotson to be the No. 2 WR. Dotson will need time to get acclimated to the NFL and the Commanders playbook, while Samuel is a veteran who just has to make sure his conditioning is up to par so he does not have another injury-plagued season.
The bottom line is Washington signed Samuel for multimillions because they think he is a playmaker who can elevate the offense, so the Commanders will give him every chance to succeed, if for no other reason but to make themselves not look bad for signing him in the first place.
Even if Dotson comes out of the gate looking like the second coming of Art Monk, Samuel will get touches because of his running ability. Two years ago with Carolina, Samuel rushed for 200 yards and two touchdowns to go along with his 851 receiving yards and three touchdown receptions.
With rookie runner Brian Robinson out for at least four games, there will be room in the backfield for Samuel to be handed-off to a handful of times each week, especially if he averages 6.4 yards per carry like he has for his career.
Carson Wentz Is an Upgrade at Quarterback
No disrespect to Taylor Heinicke, who is a solid backup quarterback that got thrust into a starting situation last season that was above his pay grade, but Wentz is a better passer. Yes, Wentz has his faults, such as taking risks with his body that result in injuries and taking risks with the football that result in turnovers. But he is a better passer and playmaker than Heinicke is. Case closed.
Wentz was able to guide Michael Pittman Jr. to a 1,000-yard year in Indianapolis last season, and if the Colts had a better corps of receivers and tight ends, he could have helped them as well. Wentz will be able to put the ball in Samuel’s hands more often than Heinicke could and is a better pure passer than Teddy Bridgewater, Cam Newton, and Kyle Allen were for Samuel during his Carolina seasons.
Samuel Knows It Is Now-or-Never Time
Samuel must understand that the groin injury that ruined his 2021 season made him look like a colossal bust. If he has another subpar season or suffers another injury that costs him multiple games, he will get released next offseason.
There is no greater motivator than money. Samuel wants to keep making his cheddar and not be forced to find a new team in 2023 that wants to invest in a smallish, injury-prone receiver who does not find the end zone much.
He will do whatever it takes to stay on the field and stay involved in the offense, whether that means running, receiving, returning kicks, or holding on extra-point attempts. If you are looking for a fantasy sleeper, sometimes it is best to find a player coming off a down year who is hungry to make amends.
Samuel has likely been ignored in most fantasy drafts the past few weeks because fantasy managers are concerned about his injury history or how he fits in an offense where there will be plenty of pass catchers (TE Logan Thomas and RB J.D. McKissic as well as McLaurin and Dotson).
Ron Rivera and company will find a way to put the rock in Samuel’s bread basket, though. If he drinks his milk and takes his vitamins so he stays injury-free, Samuel could give fantasy managers who take a flyer on him 800 receiving yards, 300 rushing yards, and a half-dozen touchdowns if he is used properly.
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