Fantasy Football Week 3: Deebo Samuel of the Washington Commanders vs. Jameson Williams of the Detroit Lions

Deebo Samuel: New Role, New Concerns

Samuel’s move to Washington created intrigue for fantasy managers, but the early returns remain mixed. The Commanders have been creative—using him on jet sweeps, short shovel passes, and quick hitters—but the ceiling is capped by Marcus Mariota’s limitations under center. Unlike Jayden Daniels, Mariota isn’t stretching defenses, and that limits Deebo’s explosive upside.

The matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders provides some hope. Las Vegas has been vulnerable against receivers, and Washington will scheme Samuel touches in space. Still, fantasy managers must temper expectations. Instead of the high-volume alpha WR role he once held in San Francisco, Samuel profiles closer to a gadget-based WR2/FLEX who needs manufactured touches to deliver.

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Jameson Williams: Betting on the Lions’ Offense

On the other side, Williams finds himself in a much more favorable environment. Detroit’s offense has been humming, and the upcoming matchup with the Baltimore Ravens sets up as one of the week’s highest-scoring games. Williams’ vertical speed and ability to flip the field makes him an appealing start in both fantasy and betting markets.

Unlike Samuel, Williams doesn’t need schemed touches—he thrives on splash plays down the field. Against a Ravens defense that has shown cracks against speedy wideouts, Williams carries strong WR2 appeal with WR1 upside if game flow turns into a shootout.

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Betting Angle: Props and Matchups

From a wagering standpoint, the contrast between Samuel and Williams is striking:

• Deebo Samuel: Oddsmakers are keeping his receiving yards props in the 40–50 range, with rushing props sprinkled in around 15–20 yards. The under remains viable given Mariota’s checkdown tendencies, though Samuel’s versatility always makes him a live bet for anytime touchdown scorer odds at plus money.

• Jameson Williams: His receiving yards props are typically set in the 55–65 range, with sportsbooks bracing for deep shots. Bettors looking for value can target longest reception over props, as one 30+ yard catch can cash instantly. With Detroit projected to put up points, Williams is also a strong first touchdown scorer candidate in the market.

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Fantasy Verdict: Start Williams, Bench Deebo

If forced to choose, the safer and higher-upside play this week is Williams. The Lions’ offensive environment, combined with a projected high-total matchup, gives him multiple paths to production. Samuel still offers a respectable floor thanks to Washington’s effort to feed him touches, but the quarterback downgrade limits his ceiling.

For fantasy managers and bettors alike, this is a clear “buy Williams, sell Deebo” week. The betting markets align with the fantasy call—Williams’ props are priced for big-play potential, while Samuel’s are suppressed by offensive context.

You can read all about what’s going on in the National Football League at SportsGrid.com.