The San Francisco 49ers will face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding WR Deebo Samuel.
Is Deebo Samuel Playing in Week 8?
Deebo Samuel Sr. played only three snaps in the 49ers’ Week 7 game vs. the Kansas City Chiefs, departing with what the team termed an illness at the time. As it turns out, Samuel was in the hospital on Monday dealing with pneumonia, leaving him uncertain to play in San Francisco’s Week 8 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
Samuel, who is also dealing with a wrist injury, did not practice on Wednesday. However, he returned to practice on Thursday as a limited participant and participated again on Friday. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Deebo still “has a chance to play” on Sunday night.
Samuel will be the 49ers’ unquestioned top wideout whenever he does return with Aiyuk out for the year. To date, Samuel has recorded a 20.9% target rate, his lowest since his rookie season back in 2019.
We’ll continue to monitor the 49ers injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Deebo Samuel in Week 8?
News broke leading up to kickoff last week that Samuel was dealing with an illness, but that was all that was reported. After playing three snaps, it was clear that he wasn’t right, as he was seen struggling to breathe on the sidelines.
Following the game, he was in the hospital with pneumonia, and his status is very much in question. Due to the optics of last week, I find it likely that he won’t be rushed back into the fold, a net positive for his fantasy stock as another start-but-hardly-play instance is less likely to occur.
For the time being, I’m counting on not having Samuel at my disposal this week. His value for the rest of the season in a Brandon Aiyuk-less offense is an interesting case study when he is deemed healthy.
Aiyuk (46.9%) is easily the team leader in target rate on the perimeter. With him out for the season, this pass game figures to revolve around Samuel and George Kittle: it’ll be the receiver who assumes that usage. This season, Samuel has been targeted on 38.9% of his perimeter routes, while Kittle’s rate sits at a predictably low 2.5%.
Samuel projects favorably moving forward, though this is a serious medical condition that needs to be monitored. (Editor’s Note: Samuel was released from the hospital on Tuesday, October 22).
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 8 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Deebo Samuel’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 8
Samuel is projected to score 15.8 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 4.2 receptions for 64 yards and 0.3 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
Deebo Samuel’s Week 8 Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 12:45 AM ET on Friday, December 27. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Weekly Consensus Superflex Rankings.
Week 17 WR PPR Rankings
1) Ja'Marr Chase | CIN (vs. DEN)
2) Puka Nacua | LAR (vs. ARI)
3) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET (at SF)
4) Justin Jefferson | MIN (vs. GB)
5) Mike Evans | TB (vs. CAR)
6) Nico Collins | HOU (vs. BAL)
7) A.J. Brown | PHI (vs. DAL)
8) Terry McLaurin | WAS (vs. ATL)
9) Davante Adams | NYJ (at BUF)
10) Tyreek Hill | MIA (at CLE)
11) Tee Higgins | CIN (vs. DEN)
12) Brian Thomas Jr. | JAX (vs. TEN)
13) Courtland Sutton | DEN (at CIN)
14) Ladd McConkey | LAC (at NE)
15) Drake London | ATL (at WAS)
16) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA (at CHI)
17) Malik Nabers | NYG (vs. IND)
18) Cooper Kupp | LAR (vs. ARI)
19) Garrett Wilson | NYJ (at BUF)
20) Jauan Jennings | SF (vs. DET)
21) Zay Flowers | BAL (at HOU)
22) Keenan Allen | CHI (vs. SEA)
23) DJ Moore | CHI (vs. SEA)
24) Jakobi Meyers | LV (at NO)
25) Jordan Addison | MIN (vs. GB)
26) DK Metcalf | SEA (at CHI)
27) George Pickens | PIT (vs. KC)
28) Calvin Ridley | TEN (at JAX)
29) DeVonta Smith | PHI (vs. DAL)
30) Adam Thielen | CAR (at TB)
31) Khalil Shakir | BUF (vs. NYJ)
32) Jameson Williams | DET (at SF)
33) Deebo Samuel Sr. | SF (vs. DET)
34) Jayden Reed | GB (at MIN)
35) DeAndre Hopkins | KC (at PIT)
36) Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI (at LAR)
37) Xavier Worthy | KC (at PIT)
38) Jaylen Waddle | MIA (at CLE)
39) Darnell Mooney | ATL (at WAS)
40) Jerry Jeudy | CLE (vs. MIA)
41) Josh Downs | IND (at NYG)
42) Jalen McMillan | TB (vs. CAR)
43) Hollywood Brown | KC (at PIT)
44) Rome Odunze | CHI (vs. SEA)
45) Romeo Doubs | GB (at MIN)
46) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND (at NYG)
47) Amari Cooper | BUF (vs. NYJ)
48) Rashod Bateman | BAL (at HOU)
49) Quentin Johnston | LAC (at NE)
50) Jalen Coker | CAR (at TB)
51) DeMario Douglas | NE (vs. LAC)
52) Xavier Legette | CAR (at TB)
53) Wan'Dale Robinson | NYG (vs. IND)
54) Christian Watson | GB (at MIN)
55) Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | TEN (at JAX)
56) Elijah Moore | CLE (vs. MIA)
57) Marquez Valdes-Scantling | BUF (vs. NYJ)
58) Calvin Austin III | PIT (vs. KC)
59) Joshua Palmer | LAC (at NE)
60) Robert Woods | HOU (vs. BAL)
61) Parker Washington | JAX (vs. TEN)
62) Tim Patrick | DET (at SF)
63) Ray-Ray McCloud III | ATL (at WAS)
64) John Metchie III | HOU (vs. BAL)
65) Keon Coleman | BUF (vs. NYJ)
66) David Moore | CAR (at TB)
67) Devaughn Vele | DEN (at CIN)
68) Michael Wilson | ARI (at LAR)
69) Tre Tucker | LV (at NO)
70) Kendrick Bourne | NE (vs. LAC)
71) Mike Williams | PIT (vs. KC)
72) Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN (at CIN)
73) Andrei Iosivas | CIN (vs. DEN)
74) Kayshon Boutte | NE (vs. LAC)
75) Olamide Zaccheaus | WAS (vs. ATL)
76) Malik Washington | MIA (at CLE)
77) Jalen Tolbert | DAL (at PHI)
78) Brandin Cooks | DAL (at PHI)
79) Sterling Shepard | TB (vs. CAR)
80) Tyler Lockett | SEA (at CHI)
81) Demarcus Robinson | LAR (vs. ARI)
82) Adonai Mitchell | IND (at NYG)
83) Dyami Brown | WAS (vs. ATL)
84) Alec Pierce | IND (at NYG)
85) Dontayvion Wicks | GB (at MIN)
86) Allen Lazard | NYJ (at BUF)
87) KaVontae Turpin | DAL (at PHI)
88) Van Jefferson | PIT (vs. KC)
89) Darius Slayton | NYG (vs. IND)
90) Ricky Pearsall | SF (vs. DET)
91) Jamison Crowder | WAS (vs. ATL)
92) Tyler Boyd | TEN (at JAX)
93) Troy Franklin | DEN (at CIN)
94) Kevin Austin Jr. | NO (vs. LV)
95) Mack Hollins | BUF (vs. NYJ)
96) Tutu Atwell | LAR (vs. ARI)
97) Jalen Nailor | MIN (vs. GB)
98) JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC (at PIT)
99) Michael Woods II | CLE (vs. MIA)
100) Justin Watson | KC (at PIT)
Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers Insights
Dallas Cowboys
Team: Dallas beat Cleveland by 16 points in Week 1. Since then, they have a 2-3 record with a -58 point differential.
QB: Brock Purdy threw 17 passes on Sunday with Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and Jauan Jennings all off the field. He only had 14 career pass attempts with his top 3 WRs off the field before that, including playoffs.
Offense: Dallas has converted just 37.5% of its red zone trips into touchdowns, putting it on pace to be the worst Cowboys team of the 2000s (current low: 38.5% in 2002).
Defense: The Cowboys have the worst run defense in the league by EPA this season.
Fantasy: Rico Dowdle has taken over this backfield, and with the Cowboys owning the lowest opposed loaded box rate, we should have running lanes moving forward.
Betting: Since the beginning of last season, the Cowboys are 5-0 ATS on extended rest (Week 7: bye), covering three of their last four games by at least 15 points.
San Francisco 49ers
Team: Don’t forget that it took a little time for this team to get into form last season – they opened 5-3 before rattling off six straight wins after their Week 9 bye. After this game, San Francisco takes their bye.
QB: Brock Purdy’s yards per pressured pass attempt are down 18.3% from a season ago, and he faces off against a defense this week that ranks fifth in pressure rate.
Offense: The 49ers have converted just 45.2% of their red zone trips into touchdowns this season, their lowest rate since 2018 (41.2%).
Defense: The 49ers allow a league-high 9.5 yards per pass to the slow this season largely because those slot routes are extending down the field (11.1 aDOT, fourth highest).
Fantasy: Brandon Aiyuk (46.9%) is easily the team leader in target rate on the perimeter. If we view Deebo Samuel and George Kittle as the primary targets with Aiyuk now done for the season, it’ll be the receiver who assumes that usage. This season, Samuel has been targeted on 38.9% of his perimeter routes, while Kittle’s rate sits at a predictably low 2.5%.
Betting: The 49ers have covered six straight games against the NFC East (Week 5, 2023 vs. DAL: 42-10 win as a 3.5-point favorite).