With fantasy football managers now eyeing the glory of their championships, the injury status of every player on the roster is key. One element that will have fantasy managers scratching their heads is the Deebo Samuel injury situation. With both knee and ankle injuries causing him to miss the last two games, could we see Samuel back on the field in for the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17, or will we have to wait another week?
What Is the Latest on Deebo Samuel’s Injury Situation?
At the start of Week 17, head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the latest on Samuel’s health on a conference call with reporters. He stated that Samuel could return to practice late in the week, depending on how things go over the next couple of days. During the broadcast Saturday, CBS alluded to the potential of Samuel returning in Week 17.
The thing to note from a fantasy perspective is that Samuel is not a lock to play in Week 17. It is dangerous for fantasy managers to drop him, just in case he does get back on the field, but it may very well be that he rides out the week on the bench. Even if he does play, Samuel would likely be fairly limited in terms of his snaps.
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Samuel is the type of player that can make big things happen on limited touches, but it would be extremely risky to start him. There is a better chance of him being able to contribute in Week 18, although the 49ers may well have nothing to play for by then. Therefore, this could be a scenario where Samuel is not a useable fantasy option in either of the next two weeks.
The fact Samuel could return as early as this week makes him an intriguing option in Underdog Fantasy Best Ball playoff contests. With around two weeks to ramp up to full work, he should be close to a full-go by Wild Card Weekend. With the 49ers a viable candidate to go all the way to the Super Bowl, which would mean playing in all four weeks, Samuel is an extremely interesting option.