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    Deebo: zero targets, 80 receiving yards, touchdown

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    SF Wide Receiver #19
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    Deebo Samuel caught zero passes for 80 receiving yards and a touchdown in the 49ers’ Week 3 win over the Cardinals. Yes, you read that correctly.

    Samuel’s box score will looks strange to most, but that’s what happens when Kyle Shanahan tries out a hook-and-ladder play in the first quarter. Mike Evans caught a pass from Brock Purdy, lateraling the ball to Samuel, who sprinted 80 yards downfield for the score. Despite Evans (rib) leaving the game early, Samuel technically finishes with zero targets, though he did carry the ball twice for 14 rushing yards. With his final stat-line, he sets the record for most receiving yards without a reception in NFL history. Samuel will benefit if Evans misses time and would be in the high-end WR3 range for Week 4 against the Broncos.
Pittsburgh Steelers are the 'Thanos' of the NFL
Andrew Perloff makes his case for Paul Pabst how the Pittsburgh Steelers are completely 'inevitable' to have a 10-7 season, and while they won't be Superbowl contenders, will clock in as average.

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  • SF Wide Receiver #11
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    This was the expected outcome for Week 3. Reports on Robinson’s injury indicate this could be a multi-week issue. With WR1 Mike Evans (hip) questionable, WR Deebo Samuel and TE George Kittle could take on sizable workloads, though the team will likely still try to limit Kittle’s snap count.
  • SF Wide Receiver #19
    Deebo also had one carry for four yards. He wasn’t needed much in this game, but Deebo played on 31 of the team’s 45 snaps and ran a route on 21 of Brock Purdy’s 26 dropbacks, both of which were the most on the team among the skill core. With Demarcus Robinson suffering a high ankle sprain, we expect Deebo to be even more involved in Week 3 against the Cardinals in what should be a closer game.
  • SF Wide Receiver #7
    Stribling will be sidelined for at least four weeks after suffering a serious ankle injury in Week 1’s win over the Rams. It’s a disappointing start for the rookie, who can safely be dropped in most fantasy leagues. Deebo Samuel, who led the Niners in slot routes last week, could see an uptick in playing time and targets over the next month. Samuel had 48 yards on six receptions against the Rams. He should be rostered in 12-team PPR formats ahead of the Niners’ Week 2 game against the Dolphins.
  • SF Wide Receiver #7
    Stribling suffered a deltoid sprain in his ankle. He is not expected to undergo surgery at this time, though Rapoport notes it is still a possibility. The fact that Rapoport noted that Stribling is “still seeking opinions” suggests surgery is very much on the table. With the rookie sidelined, Demarcus Robinson will slide into the three-receiver rotation. He scored a long touchdown versus the Rams in Week 1, though he profiles as a boom/bust WR6 going forward. Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel will see the majority of targets in most weeks.
  • SF Wide Receiver #19
    In addition to those receptions, Samuel also added a rush for five yards and returned two kicks for 74 yards with a long of 45. The 30-year-old’s time with the Commanders was disappointing, but his return to San Francisco — at least in this first contest — was a successful one, even without much yardage. Samuel’s targets were likely helped by De’Zhaun Stribling leaving with an ankle injury, but the connection between Samuel and Purdy looked solid enough in the Australia opener. Samuel will be back in action in Week 2 in a matchup against the Dolphins.
  • SF Wide Receiver #15
    In his projected depth chart, Barrows lists Stribling as both the starting slot receiver and the No. 2 X-receiver. He does not place Stribling on the Z-receiver depth chart, which could mean the rookie wide receiver has not yet earned a role in two-wide receiver sets. Veteran WR Deebo Samuel is the starting Z-receiver, though Barrows already reported that Samuel will take only “a portion” of the overall Z-receiver snaps. It would be surprising to see Nos. 2-3 Z-receivers, Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing, play ahead of Stribling when Samuel needs a breather, but the season is long and Stribling can always change Barrows’ mind. Early in the year, Stribling is likely best treated as a WR4/FLEX candidate. Were Evans to miss time, Stribling would seemingly slide into a full-time starting role.
  • SF Wide Receiver #19
    The Athletic’s Matt Barrows notes that at 30 years old, Samuel is “not going to be close to an every-down player.” 49ers WRs Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing are competing to be Samuel’s backup, though neither player will be reliable in fantasy. Samuel may also struggle to return FLEX value at this point in his career.
  • SF Wide Receiver #19
    It’s an unofficial depth chart and should be taken with some skepticism. Mike Evans and Demarcus Robinson are listed as starting wideouts alongside Samuel, who signed with the Niners last week after spending 2025 in Washington. Familiar with Kyle Shanahan’s offense after playing in San Francisco for the first six years of his NFL career, Samuel could see a surprising amount of playing time with Christian Kirk banged up and Ricky Pearsall out for the season with a knee injury. De’Zaun Stribling is listed as a WR2 on the unofficial depth chart for now. His performance in training camp and Niners coaches’ comments about the rookie suggest he’ll get plenty of run alongside Evans and Samuel in 2026.
  • SF Wide Receiver #1
    The deal is worth “up to” $7 million, presumably with the “up to” doing some heavy lifting. Trying to wait out underwhelming free agent offers until the right opportunity presented itself, 30-year-old Samuel has found the perfect opportunity in reuniting with coach Kyle Shanahan and company. Although his efficiency had been declining even before last season’s trade to the Commanders, we have little doubt it will rebound to a degree under Shanny. The question becomes where he fits in a receiver jigsaw that includes an injured Ricky Pearsall and Christian Kirk, aging Mike Evans, and unproven De’Zhaun Stribling. Samuel isn’t going to be the usage monster of his prime, but then again, the 49ers also lack proven backfield touches behind Christian McCaffrey. Perhaps even “rushing Samuel” will be in for something of a revival. Although summer fantasy drafters might have been hoping for Samuel to end up in a skill corps with less touch competition, this is ultimately a good outcome for those hoping for top-40 upside.
  • FA Wide Receiver #1
    In a mailbag column, Alexander was asked specifically if the Texans had any interest in adding Deebo Samuel. Alexander writes that the Texans like their current receiver group and will give them every opportunity to show what they’ve got in training camp. Samuel has had an extremely quiet free agency compared even to other veterans like Stefon Diggs and Keenan Allen, and it’s puzzling from the outside because Samuel was still putting up solid YAC numbers last year and didn’t appear to have lost a step. He’s still a threat to pop back on to the fantasy radar if he lands in a good situation.

Rotoworld

  • BAL Wide Receiver #7
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    Rashod Bateman caught 2-of-3 targets for 37 yards in the Ravens’ Week 3 win over the Cowboys.

    As expected, Bateman was reduced back to a lightly used WR2 with Zay Flowers back in the lineup. After going for 7-88-1 on nine targets last week against the Saints, Bateman saw just three targets in Sunday’s win, with one of those resulting in a 31-yard gain. Bateman’s 20 routes run led the Ravens’ in Sunday’s win, but he offers nothing of fantasy value as long as Flowers is in the lineup. Fantasy managers who added him after his Week 2 breakout can send him back to waivers ahead of Week 4’s game against the Titans.
  • CAR Quarterback #9
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    Panthers coach Dave Canales said Bryce Young (leg) will undergo imaging “just to make sure” on Monday.

    Canales didn’t want to get specific about Young’s status after he took a cleat to the leg, but deferred also to the idea of “other things.” It’s never incredible news to be looking down the barrel of imaging, but Young was able to return and play through the injury on Sunday and this has the feel of an “out of an abundance of concern” test for the 25-year-old quarterback.
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    Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said Jalen Thompson (hamstring) is set to miss “four-plus weeks.”

    In other words, he’s headed to injured reserve. The Cowboys safety room has been besieged by injuries this year, with Malik Hooker also missing time. They don’t have another safety on their practice squad so they may be hunting the tryout circuit on Tuesday.
  • TB Wide Receiver #11
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    ESPN’s Jenna Laine reports Jalen McMillan is having an MRI on his left knee.

    McMillan suffered a knee injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Vikings and did not return to the game. The 24-year-old receiver has played in two games this season but has yet to register a catch on the nine offensive snaps he has played. It’s been a rough two seasons for McMillan, who missed nearly all of last season with a serious neck injury that sidelined him until Week 15.
  • HOU Offensive Coordinator
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    Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said “nope, we’re all in this together” when asked about possibly replacing OC Nick Caley.

    Sugar, we’re going down swinging. Caley’s offense has been underwhelming so far — though not having Nico Collins for Weeks 2 and 3 hasn’t helped — and there’s a lot of pressure on this Texans offense at this time. In-season offensive coordinator replacements aren’t exactly bets to go well either way, but Caley is going to have to do a lot better over the next 14 weeks if he wants to keep his job after the end of this year.
  • CAR Cornerback #8
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    The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reports Panthers CB Jaycee Horn (quad) is out indefinitely.

    According to Pelissero, Horn is seeking a second opinion on his injury, but a stint on the IR is “likely,” and the star corner could “miss significant time.” it’s a brutal blow to a Panthers secondary that has been among the league’s best for the first three weeks of the season. A big reason for their success has been Horn’s play. He has been targeted just 10 times thus far, allowing five receptions for 63 scoreless yards with two pass breakups, per PFF.
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports an MRI revealed no ligament or tendon damage to Baker Mayfield’s dislocated thumb.

    In addition to a clean report on his ligaments and tendons, the MRI also revealed no fracture. This is as good of news as the Buccaneers could have hoped for, as Mayfield’s absence is expected to be on the shorter end compared to what it could have been had the MRI revealed more damage. Head coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield is looking at a minimum three-week absence, which would put him in line to return for Week 7 against the Panthers if all goes well. Rookie UDFA Jalon Daniels, who went 0-for-3 passing with an interception against the Vikings, will draw the start in the Buccaneers’ Week 4 game against the Packers.
  • NYG Quarterback #9
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    Giants acquired QB J.J. McCarthy from the Vikings in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick.

    The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero was the first to report the trade. McCarthy landing with John Harbaugh’s Giants feels a bit too on-the-nose given his connection with Jim Harbaugh during his days at Michigan. McCarthy was at one point competing for the Vikings’ QB1 job in camp with Kyler Murray, but was knocked all the way down to QB3 on the Vikings’ depth chart when Carson Wentz took over for Murray in Week 1 and drew the start in Week 2. Assuming Jameis Winston doesn’t suddenly exceed expectations and lead an efficient passing attack, McCarthy will probably get a shot to start at some point when he gets up to speed with the offense. McCarthy has thrown for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 10 career games while completing 57.6 percent of his passes. We’ll see if a change of scenery is all he needs to turn the corner and live up to the hype that made him the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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    Packers signed OG Mekhi Becton, formerly of the Chargers.

    Becton worked out for the Packers on Monday and signed shortly after. The veteran guard fills an immediate need for an offensive line that has been decimated by injuries as of late. Becton appeared in 14 regular-season games for the Chargers last season while playing exclusively at right guard. He earned a 35.7 PFF offensive grade while allowing 37 pressures and three sacks, and struggled to replicate the run-blocking success he had in 2024 while with the Eagles. He certainly fills a need, but time will tell if this proves to be a difference-making signing for an offensive line that has struggled out of the gate.
  • BUF Quarterback #17
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    Josh Allen completed 16-of-26 passes for 204 yards and two interceptions in the Bills’ 24-16, Week 3 win over the Chargers, adding 22 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground.

    Allen certainly wasn’t good in this one, but he wasn’t alone. The Bills turned the ball over five times, committed 10 penalties, and allowed four sacks and somehow won this game. His first interception was on a truly bad read over the middle of the field. The second was on a deep pass into coverage when Allen thought he had drawn an offside. The pass managed to hit the safety in the back and then land in his stomach when he rolled over after hitting the ground. Allen would also fumble on a sack later in the game. The Chargers did a good job of taking Allen’s scrambles away, and this entire Bills team was in disarray, so nobody was consistently open down the field. That being said, Allen’s two rushing touchdowns give him 85 for his career, which means he’s now tied with former Bill Marshawn Lynch for 17th on the NFL’s all-time list. The Bills and Allen will look to get things straightened out against the Patriots next week, and Allen will clearly be in your lineups.