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Deebo Samuel had his true breakout season during the 2021 season, as he put up 77 receptions for 1,405 receiving yards and six touchdowns in his third season with the San Francisco 49ers. With an astronomical 18.2 yards per catch, Samuel looked like one of the best wide receivers in the NFL last year.
Despite this, the YAC monster’s usage changed drastically in the second half of the season. After averaging 10 targets from Week 1 to Week 9, he averaged just five targets from Week 10 to Week 18. This is where Samuel’s usage as a “wide-back” came into play.
With just six rushing attempts through the first 10 weeks, his new role in the offense saw him have no less than five attempts in a game, as he totaled 53 rushing attempts over the last eight games of the season. Samuel finished the season with 365 rushing yards and an additional eight touchdowns, helping him finish as the WR3 in fantasy.
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Will Deebo Samuel Be Used As a “Wide-Back” in 2022?
Reports from training camp have been that Samuel is taking reps at running back, so it is safe to say we will be seeing him get some work as a ball carrier this season. Especially considering his new contract has a $1.95 million incentive for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
Trey Lance and the first team took every rep during today’s shortened practice. It looked like the second half of last season with how they used Deebo Samuel.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) August 14, 2022
In PPR formats, it would be ideal for Samuel to catch the ball more than he runs it, but his production didn't change much when his role was switched. When he was used solely as a wide receiver, he was the third-highest scorer at the position. When he was used as a “wide-back,” Samuel was the fourth-highest-scoring receiver in fantasy.
Where Should Deebo Samuel Be Picked In 2022 Fantasy Football Drafts?
Samuel currently has an ADP of pick 20 (WR7) despite his monster 2021 season. This seems like a fair price tag considering fantasy managers should feel comfortable with the dual threat as a mid-to-low-end WR1 this year. However, with Trey Lance under center, it may be hard to rely on a repeat of his numbers from last season.
In 4 games last year this is how Trey Lance distrubted the football:
Deebo Samuel - 23 targets
Brandon Aiyuk - 10 targets
George Kittle - 4 targets
Elijah Mitchell - 4 targets— Amr Gabr (@amrgaabr) August 25, 2022
Jimmy Garoppolo’s play style seems to better align with the skillset of Samuel; however, he was still able to put up 35.7, 16.1, and 17.2 fantasy points in the games that Lance played in. Samuel’s ADP looks like a bargain based on his production last year, but the end of Round Two price tag seems warranted considering there is a new quarterback leading their offense, as well as an increased proneness to injury based on how we can expect him to be used.
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