Deebo Samuel Traded to the Commanders: Initial Takeaways

Kevin covers the recent Deebo Samuel trade and the fantasy implications from a dynasty perspective.

The San Francisco 49ers have reportedly reached an agreement on the first major trade of the NFL offseason. According to ESPN, All-Pro Deebo Samuel will head east and play for the Washington Commanders in 2025. In return, the 49ers are expected to receive a fifth-round draft pick.

From a dynasty fantasy football perspective, this move has major implications. We’ll break down what this trade means for Deebo’s fantasy value, how the 49ers plan to adjust without him, and how the Commanders’ offense benefits from adding Samuel to the roster. Let’s dive into the fantasy impact of this deal.

The Deebo Samuel Impact

The Commanders needed another playmaker alongside Terry McLaurin, and Deebo Samuel fills that role perfectly. McLaurin surpassed 1,000 yards again, but Washington’s passing attack lacked a true second option. Their next-best WR, Olamide Zaccheaus, managed just 506 yards, while aging TE Zach Ertz—now a free agent—was second in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Samuel immediately steps in as the team's WR2 and a focal point of the offense.

His arrival reunites him with Commanders GM Adam Peters, who played a key role in drafting him in San Francisco. Now, it's on Dan Quinn and Kliff Kingsbury to maximize his skill set. Kingsbury’s offense leaned heavily on screens last season (fifth in attempts), but efficiency was lacking. That’s where Samuel thrives. Even in a down year, he ranked near the top of the league in YAC per catch and remains an elite open-field threat.

From a fantasy perspective, Samuel is a WR2/3—if he stays healthy. That’s a big question mark, as injuries have plagued him since 2021. His monster season that year (21.2 PPG) was an outlier, and his production has steadily declined since. With this trade generating hype, it’s a perfect sell window. Leverage his rushing upside and past production to tier up at wide reciever before his value drops further with more injuries.

Washington Commanders’ Impact

McLaurin remains the WR1, and Samuel should help open up deep shots for him. McLaurin has been a buy for me for the last two years and I actually think he’ll be worth the price this off-season. As I mentioned, Samuel’s inability to stay healthy makes me think we’ll see more targets for McLuarin this season either way. His arrival could hurt Zach Ertz’s role if the veteran returns, as Samuel dominates short-area targets (Ertz led the team with 56 short-yard targets last year). A sleeper to watch is second-year TE Ben Sinnott, who could emerge if Ertz departs.

The player most at risk is Brian Robinson. The Commanders leaned on Austin Ekeler in the passing game last season, and Samuel could steal red-zone opportunities. On the flip side, this is a boost for rookie QB Jayden Daniels. If Washington continues building around him, having a dynamic playmaker like Deebo will only help his development. Not to mention, it could solidify him as dynasty QB1.

San Francisco 49ers’ Impact

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