Analyze Deeboo Samuel's matchup for week 9
Deebo Samuel has cratered to unstartable territory, posting 26 receiving yards total across his last two games with Mariota at QB; against a middling Seahawks secondary he still profiles as a desperation-only play and should be benched in all standard-sized leagues.
Seattle’s pass defense ranks in the middle of the pack, allowing the 14th-most fantasy points to wide receivers, but that neutrality turns negative for Samuel because the Seahawks can roll coverage his way without fear of Mariota beating them deep. With Jayden Daniels ruled out, Mariota will make his third start; in the prior two Samuel averaged 5.5 targets and 21.5 receiving yards while the entire Washington aerial attack managed only one touchdown. Terry McLaurin’s return further caps target share, and Seattle’s corners—led by Devon Witherspoon and Tariq Woolen—have the size and speed to handle Samuel’s after-catch physicality.
After a WR8 start through Week 6, Samuel has bottomed out: 7-26-0 on 11 targets the past two weeks, a microscopic 3-11 line in Week 8, and no 20-yard reception since Week 5.
Even in 14- or 16-team leagues the risk-reward calculation tilts sharply to the downside. Samuel’s floor is literally zero—he posted 1.1 PPR points last week—and his ceiling with Mariota under center is a low-end WR4 at best. Alternative flyers such as Troy Franklin (vs HOU’s burnable outside corners) or Xavier Hutchinson (projected for 6-8 slot targets vs DEN) offer both higher floors and comparable ceilings. Until Daniels’ hamstring heals or Samuel recaptures even 70% of his early-season usage, he belongs on benches, not in starting lineups. Bench him everywhere and pivot to almost any other option with a pulse.