49ers vs. Seahawks: 5 fantasy football must starts for Week 4

Fantasy Football Must Start No. 1: 49ers Wide Receiver Deebo Samuel

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel might no longer be the NFL’s leading receiver after what some fantasy owners would consider an “off” night in Week 3 where he had only five catches for 52 yards.

If you’re thinking those stats make him a bearish starting option for Week 4, think again.

True, Samuel has only found the end zone once this season, and that’s where fantasy points are hidden each and every time. But if you have a choice between Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, look no further than the targets.

Aiyuk had four last week, Samuel had five. And Samuel is leading all 49ers pass-catchers with 30 targets on the year, 12 more than George Kittle has had over that same timeframe.

Especially in PPR leagues, Samuel needs to be a must-start player in Week 4.

The same factors that allow Aiyuk to be a must-start option this weekend play in favor of Samuel, too, notably Seattle’s defense being permeable and allowing an average of 7 yards per pass play. Even though the Niners, too, will look to control the clock with the ground game, Jimmy Garoppolo’s short-area passes can emulate an extension of the run game, and Samuel has already been a big factor in that area this season.

He’s a quality choice for Week 4 fantasy owners.