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Fantasy managers with Deebo Samuel in their starting lineup in Week 3 were feeling better than Brock Purdy's high school coach on Thursday night.
Six catches for 129 yards and a touchdown ended up being the final stat line. But we can't always just have nice things. Samuel rumbled through the Giants' defenders which resulted in rib and knee injuries. Over a week later, the wideout is still working through his recovery.
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Now, his status for Sunday appears to be a real question mark, despite the additional rest.
Is Deebo Samuel Playing In Week 4?
The former All-Pro wide receiver logged three straight DNPs at practice this week but all is not lost. Coaches have not ruled Samuel out yet and he's waiting to see how his injuries respond to treatment. He is officially listed as questionable.
Two other San Francisco wide receivers join Samuel on the injury report this week. Brandon Aiyuk (shoulder) will return to the lineup after sitting out Week 3. He was a full participant in practice on Friday and coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed his availability. Wideout Jauan Jennings did not practice all week with a shin issue and is doubtful to suit up on Sunday.
Should I Start Deebo Samuel In Week 4? What Happens If He Sits?
If Deebo Samuel is active on Sunday afternoon, he deserves a spot in your lineup. However, the 49ers may opt to rest him against an easier opponent (Arizona) so he's fully healthy next week when San Francisco hosts the Dallas Cowboys. The Niners are an afternoon kickoff, so hopefully there will be some clarity on his status before the noon games begin.
The 49ers have an unwritten rule where Samuel, Aiyuk, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey all can't have big games at the same time. With an ultra-efficient offense and stifling defense, there isn't enough work to go around. It's rare that all four skill players score over 10 PPR points in the same game. When one sits out, however, the probability that the others will have good games skyrockets.
| 2022 Games That Samuel Didn’t Play | Kittle Fantasy Points (PPR) |
| Week 8 | 12.9 |
| Week 15 | 25.3 |
| Week 16 | 30.0 |
| Week 17 | 12.3 |
When Samuel was inactive in Weeks 15 through 17 of last season, Kittle scored five touchdowns over that span. When Aiyuk was inactive last week, Samuel had his best game of the young season. If Samuel were to be inactive on Sunday, Kittle and Aiyuk are both must-starts for fantasy football lineups.
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