49ers WR Deebo Samuel (ankle, knee) practiced fully to end the week and doesn't carry an injury tag in anticipation of Week 18 vs. the Cardinals. We'd be surprised if Samuel saw a full workload coming off a 3-week absence in the game the 49ers should control. But he's always capable of making his fantasy day with 1 big play. As such, consider the veteran a low-end WR3/flex option with some risk.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel is "day-to-day" with a rib injury suffered in Thursday night's game vs. the Giants, HC Kyle Shanahan said. Samuel returned after suffering the injury, scoring a 29-yard TD in the fourth quarter. He should be fine for Week 4, especially with the extra few days to rest up.

With WR Brandon Aiyuk inactive with a shoulder injury, 49ers WR Deebo Samuel was featured in Thursday night's win over the Giants. He drew a team-high 12 targets for a 32.4% target share. Samuel and QB Brock Purdy actually missed on a few connections they usually make, but Samuel still finished with 6 catches for 129 yards and a score. He had a couple of trademark bulldozing catch-and-runs. And he capped the night with a 29-yard TD down the right sideline. Expect Samuel's target share to take a bit of a hit whenever Aiyuk is ready to return. But he'll remain a big part of this high-scoring 49ers offense -- and a strong WR2 in fantasy lineups.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel said he’s in his best shape since his rookie season (2019). Samuel looks “decidedly sleeker and lighter on his feet” early in camp, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. The 27-year-old shared more about his new physique. “I think the heat kind of played a part because Arizona is hot,” Deebo said, referring to where he trained. “We were doing a lot of running, a lot of cardio, a lot of stuff to kind of trim the fat a little bit. A lot of track working out. Then I got into a routine of flexibility, mobility, and then I got into boxing a little bit.” Following a down 2022, Samuel hits the WR rankings as a top-20 option.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel plummeted from third among WRs in PPR points per game in 2021 to 28th last year. His volume dipped a bit with the addition of RB Christian McCaffrey. But efficiency was Samuel's bigger problem. After setting career highs in 2021 with 11.6 yards per target and 2.93 yards per route run, he registered career lows last year with 6.7 yards per target and 1.85 yards per route. Expect a bounce back there. McCaffrey's presence and Samuel's lengthy injury history remain concerns, but he's much cheaper in fantasy drafts this summer than last. See where Samuel lands in the 2023 WR Rankings.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel admitted that 2022 contract negotiations contributed to a down season. The 27-year-old signed an extension last July. On Tuesday, Samuel described his play last season as “awful.” He performed at a WR3 level in PPR points per game. "We talked about it. We put it behind us, and [were] just going through the tape to just look how sluggish and how bad it looked on tape," Samuel said of a conversation with HC Kyle Shanahan. "I never will put nothing like that back on tape again.” Deebo currently profiles as a top-20 fantasy WR for 2023.