Fantasy football managers of San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel are in a bit of a tough spot heading into Week 10.
On one hand, Samuel’s talent and big-play ability make him tough to fade out of your starting lineup. On the other hand, this will be his first game back injury — returning to a Niners offense that has struggled without him in the lineup over the last couple of games.
Since Samuel’s fantasy outlook this week is a bit murky, should fantasy managers consider starting Pittsburgh Steelers WR Diontae Johnson instead? Let’s take a closer look.
Diontae Johnson’s Week 10 Fantasy Outlook
Fantasy managers who have been waiting for well over a calendar year for Johnson to find the end zone likely want to throw a parade for his score against the Tennessee Titans last week.
The touchdown is great and all, but it has been Johnson’s recent usage in the passing game over the last two games that should have fantasy managers excited about Johnson’s outlook for the rest of the 2023 season.
Johnson has seen 23 targets over the last two weeks and generated 15 receptions for 175 yards and a score.
Another development worth keeping an eye on is just how much he is outproducing fellow starting WR George Pickens over the same span. Pickens has just three receptions for 21 yards combined over the previous two contests. Now, Pickens did score, but he’s only seen 10 targets in comparison to Johnson’s 23, which feels pretty significant.
Johnson is facing off against the Green Bay Packers in Week 10 and should see plenty of looks against the Packers’ defense.
Deebo Samuel’s Week 10 Fantasy Outlook
Samuel has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury but is trending towards a return to the field against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10. Samuel gave his fantasy managers close to nothing in the three games leading up to his three-game hiatus, catching just three passes for 55 yards on four targets.
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Before his shoulder injury against the Cleveland Browns, Samuel displayed a reliable pass-catching floor through the first three games of the season. He caught at least five passes in every one of those games for a minimum of 55 yards. This doesn’t even include his contributions in the running game, which always add a bit of extra fantasy value and opportunities for big plays.
The 49ers have missed Samuel and should aim to get him the ball early and often to establish him as a real threat in this contest.
Should You Start Johnson or Samuel This Week?
When deciding between Johnson and Samuel, you are generally trying to decide between the player who provides a safer fantasy floor (Johnson) and a higher ceiling (Samuel).
Johnson feels like he is trending in the right direction, but trusting the Steelers’ passing game doesn’t exactly feel exciting. Meanwhile, San Francisco is likely on a warpath to end this losing streak and get the offense back on track.
I am going to roll with Samuel in a game where I expect the 49ers offense to bounce back in a big way.
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