DeeboSamuel Sr.

News: 2 days agoSamuel did not play in Thursday night's preseason opener against the Titans.

Spin: Samuel joined Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed), Mike Evans (quadriceps) and a host of other injured Niners in street clothes against Tennessee. Samuel is 30 years old and just signed with the team two weeks ago. He's expected to push Christian Kirk (calf) and rookie De'Zhaun Stribling for targets alongside Evans this season.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Samuel reunited with the 49ers in July after solid yet unspectacular lone season in Washington. The former second-round pick cleared 85 touches and 800 scrimmage yards for the fifth consecutive season and finished 25th among receivers in fantasy points -- his third-career top-30 fantasy campaign. Samuel's role as a short-area target and occasional rusher gets the ball in his hands plenty (he's ranked in the top 15 among WRs in touches and RAC five years in a row), but it doesn't allow him much scoring upside (10 TDs over the last two years, and he's never cleared five end zone targets in one season). Now 30 years old, Samuel figures to resume his role as a short-area playmaker in Kyle Shanahan's highly-efficient offense. He's a fine late-round flier with WR3/flex upside.