The Washington Commanders wasted no time bolstering their wide receiver corps as they acquired Deebo Samuel from the San Francisco 49ers for their 2025 5th-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. General Manager Adam Peters has made it abundantly clear that the Commanders are in a “win now” window while Jayden Daniels enters the second year of his rookie contract. Despite being a top-five scoring offense (28.5 PPG), Washington leaned heavily on the run (3rd with 154.1 YPG) rather than the pass (17th with 215.6 PPG) in 2024. They struggled to find consistent wide receiver production outside of Terry McLaurin.
Enter Deebo Samuel. The former All-Pro gets a fresh start in D.C. with hopes of returning to his 2021 form, where he totaled nearly 1,800 yards of total offense and finished as WR3 in PPR. However, injuries and inconsistency have limited his production since then, as he’s topped 1,000 all-purpose yards just once in the last three seasons. With Super Bowl aspirations and a contract year ahead, Samuel has every reason to prove he’s still one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers.
While we wait for the trade to become official on March 12, I review who benefits the most and who takes a hit as a result of this trade.
Winners
Jayden Daniels: Quarterback (Was)
Jayden Daniels adds another weapon to what looks to be an elite offense once again in 2025. According to Fantasy Points Data, Deebo led all wide receivers with 50 or more receptions in YAC per reception in 2024, averaging 8.35 yards after the catch. He also led this category in 2023 (8.75), 2022 (9.00), and 2021 (10.22). If Commanders’ Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury can find ways to get Deebo the ball in space. He could play a major role in helping Daniels take the next step as a passer. His QB3 Underdog Best Ball ranking looks to be locked in after the Deebo Samuel trade.
Ricky Pearsall: Wide receiver (SF)
Going into his rookie season, Ricky Pearsall didn’t have a clear path to fantasy relevance due to the logjam of pass catchers in San Francisco. The departure of Deebo Samuel vacates 81 targets that Pearsall will be eager to get his hands on. Add in the fact that Brandon Aiyuk may miss time to start the season due to his November 2024 ACL surgery, and suddenly, Pearsall could be pushed into a starting role in Week 1. Currently sitting as WR46 in Underdog Best Ball rankings, expect his ADP to rise as the fantasy community reacts to the trade news.
Terry McLaurin: Wide Receiver (Was)
At first glance, adding a receiver of Samuel’s caliber might seem like a threat to the 2024 WR5 in PPR. However, Terry McLaurin stands to benefit from the added firepower. His target share shouldn’t take a significant hit. There are plenty of opportunities that can be redistributed from lesser pieces of the offense. Even if he returns, Zach Ertz‘s role is unlikely to command the same volume. Players like Noah Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus were never going to hold high-priority roles in the offense. Kliff Kingsbury would much rather funnel those looks to McLaurin and Samuel. Keeping Terry as the clear alpha while benefiting from a dynamic playmaker drawing defensive attention. McLaurin is still Batman—he just finally has a Robin. If you see Terry slide from his WR14 Best Ball ranking, quickly take advantage of this discount while you can.
Losers
Luke McCaffrey: Wide receiver (Was)
Many were surprised when Luke McCaffrey earned Day Two draft capital as the 100th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. His elite athletic profile and the McCaffrey name made him a popular sleeper pick in rookie draft. His lack of production in 2024, combined with Washington’s decision to trade for Deebo Samuel, further clouds his path to fantasy relevance. At this point, he’s at-best a dynasty stash. If you were planning to hold him on your Taxi Squad, it’s probably time to consider a different lottery ticket for 2025.
Ben Sinnott: Tight End (Was)
Zach Ertz’s future in Washington is uncertain. Fantasy managers have been speculating on who could emerge as the second option in the Washington offense. Ben Sinnott’s name started circulating as an under-the-radar candidate to secure that role. However, with Deebo Samuel now in the fold, I don’t expect enough consistency in targets for the third and fourth options. On a run-heavy team, it limits Sinnott’s potential to be a fantasy difference-maker. That said, Sinnott still makes for an intriguing last-round flyer in best ball formats, particularly if Ertz does not re-sign.
Camaron Cheeseman: Long Snapper (Was)
As if being a part of one of the highest pressure plays in football wasn’t enough, Camaron Cheeseman now has to keep his head on a swivel. One or two missed kicks, and he might have Deebo grabbing at his throat. Being an NFL long snapper really is a thankless job.
So do you think was the biggest winner and loser of the Deebo Samuel trade? Let me know in the comments!
Check Out all of our Fantasy Football Article HERE!!
