The Washington Commanders made the first major move of the offseason when they acquired wide receiver Deebo Samuel in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers. A one-time All-Pro, Samuel hasn’t come close to recapturing his magical 2021 season in the past few years, but could a change of scenery bring out the best in him, both from a fantasy football and real-life standpoint?
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. https://t.co/aOMleOdBQX
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 1, 2025
Fantasy Football: Deebo Samuel Outlook With Washington Commanders
Before discussing the fit with the Commanders, we must first discuss Deebo Samuel the player. At his best, Samuel was one of the game’s elite weapons. Equally dangerous out of the backfield and as a pass-catcher, Samuel was the perfect chess piece for Kyle Shanahan’s offense and terrified defenses with his ability after the catch.
Unfortunately, those days are long gone. Samuel has yet to record 900 receiving yards in a season since his 1,400 2021, but the underlying metrics suggest he has some untapped potential. While his 70.9 PFF grade was solid but unspectacular, his 85.4 grade in 2023 and 74.1 grade in 2022 suggest Kyle Shanahan wasn’t getting the most out of his elusive weapon.
Additionally, while his ability to get open has faltered in recent years, Samuel remains elite with the ball in his hands. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Samuel’s 2.3 average YAC over expectation was tied for sixth-best in the league with Ja’Marr Chase and Chris Godwin.
All this is one long way of saying that Samuel’s 2021 was probably an outlier, but he is still a good player who could thrive in the right environment. The only question is whether or not the Washington Commanders can get the most out of Deebo Samuel.
Fit With Washington
Based on the scheme and situation, the Washington Commanders appear to be a perfect fit for Deebo Samuel. The most important part of fantasy success is getting on the field, and Samuel has a clear path to playing time. Terry McLaurin isn’t going anywhere, but the Commanders desperately needed a proper WR2 before this trade. Samuel has no real competition for targets and should see the field early and often. While it’s impossible to see the future, it’s hard to envision Washington using a first-round pick on a receiver after this trade, so Samuel shouldn’t have any issue earning opportunities in this passing attack.
Not only will Samuel play, but Washington’s combination of coach and quarterback should be able to get the most out of the former All-Pro. Jayden Daniels is one of the best young quarterbacks in the league and can support two fantasy-relevant wide receivers. While Daniels had a remarkable rookie season, some of the production was artificially inflated by head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s scheme. The former Cardinals head coach excels at scheming up screen and quick passes, which is Samuel’s bread and butter.
Deebo Samuel’s days as a true WR1 are likely over, but nobody should be surprised if he finishes as a WR2 in fantasy with the Commanders. Now entering his age-29 season, what should fantasy managers expect for Samuel in a trade?
Fantasy Football Value
According to KeepTradeCut, Deebo Samuel was the dynasty WR53 before the trade to the Commanders. That ranking will undoubtedly rise in the coming days, but how high should he go?
At 29 years old, Samuel is much closer to the end of his career than the beginning. Age is everything in dynasty leagues, so even if the Commanders trade pans out perfectly, he probably only has another two or three years, tops, left in his tank. While his ceiling is reasonably high for 2025, his age and the uncertainty of joining a new team cap his overall value. If you own Samuel, try to trade him for an early 2025 second-round pick.
Main Photo: Sergio Estrada – Imagn Images
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