49ers studs, duds from Week 5 loss vs. Cardinals

49ers Stud: Wide Receiver Deebo Samuel

Considering the Niners’ offensive output from Week 5, or lack thereof, no offensive cast member is going to have a peerless “stud” rating.

Yet there were still some quality performances, including some by San Francisco’s best offensive weapon through five weeks, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who entered the week with the league’s most receiving yards (490).

Samuel will have lost that claim after this week’s slate of games, unfortunately, but he was still a massively positive difference-maker despite having a couple of dropped passes.

In total, Samuel reeled in a team-high 58 yards on only three receptions during the game, including a key 26-yard gain on a 1st-and-10 play towards the end of the first quarter. On top of that, Samuel’s rushing abilities were also fully in play, as he managed a 13-yard rushing touchdown for his only score and the only time the 49ers found the end zone.

It might not have been a game Samuel essentially took over the offense. Yet he continued to solidify himself as the Niners’ No. 1 offensive weapon this deep in the season, and it would be wise for San Francisco to continue funneling its offense through Samuel as much as possible in the upcoming weeks.