Deebo Samuel Bolsters Commanders WR Corps

What They're Saying

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport: "The Commanders were the team all along. I know there was some talk of the Texans, but that was never realistic. It was always Washington."

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

It certainly makes sense. Samuel's a low-risk bet for the Commanders, who lose only a Day 3 draft pick and get a 29-year-old WR with one year left on his contract.

Samuel endured a disappointing 2024 but was playing better before a mid-season bout with pneumonia.

In five games before the illness, Samuel averaged 10.5 yards per target and 2.19 yards per route. In nine games after, that dropped to 6.8 yards per target and 1.26 per route.

Samuel now joins a Washington offense that Terry McLaurin has led in targets for six straight seasons. But his target share has dipped below 24% for each of the past three seasons.

That leaves room for Samuel, who has also historically played a shorter game (6.7-yard career average depth of target) than McLaurin (12.7).

Samuel looks like a potential WR3 for fantasy in 2025 -- perhaps with upside into low WR2 range.

Dynasty Impact

This will be just Samuel's age-29 season. If he can rebound from last year's disappointment, there's potential for another couple of productive seasons.

That said, playing with Jayden Daniels has the potential to overexcite some dynasty players.

Stay open if a strong offer comes in.

Other Winners & Losers

We've been expecting an opportunity boost for 49ers WRs Jauan Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk, and Ricky Pearsall and TE George Kittle in the wake of a Samuel trade.

None of the wideouts sit higher than 40th in our early PPR rankings. Aiyuk's ACL recovery adds uncertainty to the situation.

All have been going in a similar range in best ball ADP, though, making them fine values.

Rankings Movement

Expect Samuel to stick around the bottom of WR3 range in our rankings, though Daniels helps the upside more than plenty of other QBs might have.

Terry McLaurin should also remain in low-WR2 territory -- though he's been going early in best ball drafts and already looked like a poor value.

Samuel should be a good addition for Daniels' upside, but he has already been a top-4 QB in early drafting. So you'll have to pay to get him.

Projected ADP Movement

I'd bet on Samuel climbing in best ball ADP. Be careful about chasing him too high up the board.

We'll have to see whether the San Francisco WRs do. They shouldn't, given that a Samuel trade has been expected all offseason. So beware such movement.