Deebo Samuel injury: Fantasy implications with 49ers WR out ‘couple weeks’ with calf strain

The 49ers will be without one of their top wide receivers for a “couple weeks”. We break down the fantasy football waiver wire implications.

The San Francisco 49ers stumbled to a loss in Minnesota in Week 2, but they suffered a potentially bigger loss late in the game. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told the media on Monday that wide receiver Deebo Samuel suffered a calf strain on the third to last play of the game, and would miss “a couple of weeks.”

Samuel finished the game with eight receptions for 110 yards. Brandon Aiyuk has been slow out of the gate to start the season and Samuel has been Brock Purdy’s biggest target through two weeks.

Fantasy football waiver wire options to replace Deebo Samuel

The team will likely look to Aiyuk and George Kittle to step up in Samuel’s absence. Neither is a player you’ll find available in most leagues. Jauan Jennings is available in most leagues, but offers limited upside. He caught two passes for 37 yards against the Vikings and five receptions for 64 yards the week before.

There are some wide receivers off to a solid start that are available in greater than 50% of Yahoo! fantasy leagues. Jets WR Allen Lazard (54% availability) had a huge Week 1 with six receptions for 89 yards and two scores, but only had two receptions for 11 yards in Week 2. Chargers WR Quentin Johnston (93% availability) broke out in Week 2 with five receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown. Browns WR Jerry Jeudy (59% availability) had five receptions for 73 yards a week after opening with three for 25 and a touchdown.

The most interesting choice though might be Colts WR Alec Pierce. He has scored in each of the Colts’ first two games and has eight receptions for 181 yards in that stretch.