Fantasy Upside
Ted Ginn Jr. had 95 targets last year as a Carolina Panther, and while rookie Curtis Samuel isn’t the same player, he does duplicate some of the same skills Ginn brought to the offense. Samuel is a versatile threat who may get some touches out of the backfield in addition to contributing to the passing game. Along with fellow rookie Christian McCaffrey, Samuel is probably already one of the top threats on the team to take the top off the defense. Samuel has a lot of upside in quick-strike leagues and best ball formats due to his big-play potential.
Fantasy Downside
Samuel has already been limited in camp with a nagging hamstring. While he seems to be fine, it’s always concerning to see speedy guys deal with hamstring issues. His target share is likely to be low with Greg Olsen at TE and Kelvin Benjamin eating up 118 targets last year and now two years removed from a knee injury that kept him out of 2015 entirely. Consistency will be an issue for Samuel, although he’s likely to make a few highlight reels.
2017 Bottom Line
Samuel is a nice dynasty option as he looks to improve and gain an increased role in the offense while he develops. However, the depth chart looks too crowded right now to assume a big impact as a rookie. In most leagues, Samuel should be considered as nothing more than a late-round flier in case he can earn a Tyreek Hill-esque role in an offense that desperately needs playmakers.