San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) - Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire
As ESPN continues to release their top ten players for each position, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver, Deebo Samuel was left off the list. Samuel is a big part of this 49ers offense and makes a difference when he is on the field. Despite not making it into the top ten, he did make it as an honorable mention. Here is a look at why he may not be in the top ten.
Deebo Samuel Left off the List
Deebo Samuel was drafted in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft with the 36th overall pick. Since the draft, Samuel has made four NFC Championship games and two Super Bowls. He has also earned First-Team AP All-Pro once and was voted into the Pro Bowl once so far in his career. Despite his strong 2023 season performance, his name is not on ESPN’s top ten list for wide receivers.
Are Injuries a Reason?
While Samuel is a crucial player on the 49ers offense, it is possible that missing a couple of games affected where he stands on the list. According to the ESPN article, the reason he did not make the list is because “durability is a bit of a concern.” Being a physical player, injuries happen. They have been a part of Samuel’s career. While he still had a strong season, this is a reason he was kept off of the top ten list this year. He exited early in the game against the Cleveland Browns. Samuel then missed the following two games. He did, however, come back stronger when he returned. His game against the Philadelphia Eagles was one of the strongest games in his career. Unfortunately, the receiver also sustained an injury in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Other Possibilities
Another, potentially minor, possibility of only being an honorable mention is his contribution to the run game. He is a strong receiver and a very physical athlete but runs the ball on the 49ers’ offense pretty often. This is a possibility that he is just an honorable mention compared to the receivers in the top ten, who do not run as often.
While Samuel was left off of the list, fellow San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is on it. Aiyuk is tenth on the 2023 top wide receivers in the NFL.
2023 Season
Despite missing three games, leaving very early against the Cleveland Browns, Samuel had a strong 2023 season. The 49ers are known for their weapons on offense, and Samuel is a major one. In the three-game losing streak, Samuel was not on the field. While the team has numerous weapons, his versatility is a major benefit to the team.
In 2023, he ended up with 60 receptions for 892 yards and seven touchdowns, according to Pro Football Reference. Though he is a wide receiver, he rushed for 225 yards and five touchdowns. Of course, this is why he calls himself a wideback. With the addition of Christian McCaffrey in 2022, Samuel has had to be relied on much less in the run game but is still a dominant weapon.
In the postseason, Samuel had 13 receptions for 146 yards and just 15 rushing yards. Samuel did get banged up in the postseason, even having to exit the Super Bowl.
Hopefully, in 2024, Samuel can come out strong and healthy for the 49ers. He is the team’s number-one receiver on the depth chart and is still hungry to make it back to the Super Bowl. He continues on his social media how hard he has been working this offseason to get back out there on the field. Training camp is right around the corner for veterans. Maybe the wide receiver can do enough to earn the top ten in next year’s list.
