Niner Noise
FanSided

Ranking the 49ers 5 most impressive players from 2020 playoffs

By Robert Morrison

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers runs the ball in the first quarter of Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers runs the ball in the first quarter of Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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San Francisco 49ers
Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Wide Receiver Deebo Samuel

Considering how well first-year wide receiver Deebo Samuel played during the back half of the regular season and into the playoffs, it was often easy to forget that he’s only a rookie.

The former South Carolina Gamecock proved himself to be more than just a wideout, showcasing his skills both as a receiver and as a running back throughout the playoffs. It often seemed like head coach Kyle Shanahan enjoyed finding ways to get Samuel the ball in space to utilize his speed and ability to run defenders over with the ball in his hands.

Samuel ended his first NFL playoff experience with 10 receptions for 127 yards (12.7 YPC), and added to that six carries out of the backfield for a whopping 102 yards (17.0 YPC), including 53 yards in the Super Bowl, a record for rushing yards by a wide receiver, and this run:

With Samuel and tight end George Kittle, the 49ers have two of the NFL’s most ferocious runners with the football in their hands, and Samuel showed himself to be one of Jimmy Garoppolo’s most trusted targets throughout the playoffs as well.

He could also be well on his way to becoming the 49ers’ No. 1 receiver going into 2020, and if his performance during this season’s playoffs is any indication, he’ll be fully capable of being up for the challenge.