The Washington Commanders continue navigating uncertainty in their receiving corps as they prepare for this weekend’s divisional showdown with Dallas. Deebo Samuel Sr. has been managing a persistent heel injury that continues to create questions about his availability. With the veteran receiver remaining limited in practice, should fantasy football managers expect Samuel to play through the injury once again?
Deebo Samuel Sr. Injury Update
Samuel has been battling a bruised heel for multiple weeks, creating ongoing availability concerns for Washington’s offense. The injury first emerged ahead of Week 5, when he missed the team’s opening practice sessions before ultimately suiting up and performing well against the Chargers.
Samuel was a true game-time decision last week against the Bears after missing several practice sessions throughout the week. He ultimately played in the contest but did not appear to be operating at 100% capacity. Samuel played 72% of the snaps, his second-lowest total of the season, and managed only four catches on five targets for 15 yards.
This week brought continued concerns when Samuel did not participate in Wednesday or Thursday practice sessions due to his ongoing heel issue. The back-to-back absences suggested the bruised heel remains a significant problem that has not improved despite several weeks of management.
However, Friday brought some encouraging news when Samuel was spotted at the initial portion of the team’s practice session. While his official participation level remains to be determined, his presence on the field represents progress from his complete absences earlier in the week.
The heel bruise has become a matter of pain tolerance rather than structural damage. The issue won’t heal properly unless Samuel actually takes time off from football activities to allow proper recovery. With the Commanders’ bye week not scheduled until Week 12, the team faces a difficult decision between having him play through the discomfort until then or taking a week off to see if it improves.
According to ESPN’s John Keim, Samuel acknowledged the challenging nature of his situation when speaking to reporters. “We’ll just have to see” when asked about playing Sunday, Samuel said. He described the heel as “aggravating for sure,” indicating the ongoing nature of his discomfort.
There appears to be a legitimate chance the Commanders opt to sit Samuel this week to allow additional healing time, particularly given their depth concerns at other receiver positions that make managing his workload more challenging.
Samuel Fantasy Outlook
Currently leading the Commanders with 34 receptions for 315 yards and four total touchdowns through six games. Samuel has established himself as quarterback Jayden Daniels’ most reliable target this season.
The prevailing narrative this summer was that the Commanders overspent on a veteran receiver and that while it may help them win games, the fantasy impact would be minimal. That assessment has proven completely wrong.
Washington has been utilizing Samuel in and out of the slot with great success. His target share sits at a strong 27.2%, and while some of that reflects Terry McLaurin’s ongoing health issues, Samuel has looked excellent physically when healthy.
However, last week’s performance suggests the heel injury may be more limiting than initially believed. His reduced snap count and limited production against Chicago indicate he may not be operating at full capacity even when he plays through the discomfort.
The timing creates additional complexity as Washington remains without McLaurin and continues to have depth concerns at receiver. Samuel’s potential absence or limited effectiveness would leave the Commanders significantly depleted at the position, with Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane, and Chris Moore representing the primary alternatives.
Fantasy managers should monitor Samuel’s Friday practice participation closely, as his involvement level will provide the clearest indication of his weekend availability and potential effectiveness against Dallas.