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Jaylen Samuels - Steelers RB/TE Hybrid - Dynasty (1 Viewer)

BoltBacker said:
So he's saying that he worked on speed THIS offseason? Never thought to work on his speed for the NFL combine? Huh. Some of these fluff pieces tweets seem even more worthless than others.
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It didn't say he failed to do it last year. He's doing it this year. Maybe he did it last year and still wanted to improve.

However, I do agree that these make no impact on my ranking of him or any other player that these fluff pieces are written about.

 
Jaylen Samuels is probably going to win the starting job in Pittsburgh at some point this season. 

He's just to versatile keep off the field. He's as good of a runner as Conner and a way better receiving weapon tyan Conner. 

 
IMO If he can't get to the hole faster, he will end up a H-Back/TE hybrid.  RIght now I see Pittsburgh as another 3-RB backfield. 

 
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Hairy Snowman said:
IMO If he can't get to the hole faster, he will end up a H-Back/TE hybrid.  RIght now I see Pittsburgh as another 3-RB backfield. 
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His 3 cone time at the combine was 6.93 at 225 pounds.......

 
Milkman said:
Jaylen Samuels is probably going to win the starting job in Pittsburgh at some point this season. 

He's just to versatile keep off the field. He's as good of a runner as Conner and a way better receiving weapon tyan Conner. 
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Sorry, but have to disagree with your assessment.  Conner was a better RB than Samuels last year, definitely showed more power and ability to finish.  He also proved more than capable as a receiver out of the backfield (55 rec., 497 yards, 9 ypc), so Samuels was not way better in that department.  

Now, if Samuels makes the same sophomore jump that Conner's did, he will absolutely be a big part of their offense, but I don't see him taking Conners starting position unless he gets hurt.  What I've heard out of camp is the possibility of both of them being on the field at the same time, which doesn't help for FF purposes, but will likely be a nightmare on NFL defensive coordinators. 

 
Milkman said:
Jaylen Samuels is probably going to win the starting job in Pittsburgh at some point this season. 

 He's just to versatile keep off the field. He's as good of a runner as Conner and a way better receiving weapon tyan Conner.
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Based on what?

Conner had a better ypc against stacked and base fronts and on plays with the QB under center. Samuels had a better ypc against light fronts and with QB in shotgun, though Conner's ypc was over 5 ypc in both.

Conner had a higher breakaway run rate and a higher juke rate. Conner averaged more yards after contact, more YPR, and more YAC per reception.

PFF graded Samuels better as a receiver but Conner better at running, run blocking, and pass blocking. Football Outsiders shows Conner with higher DVOA (and Samuels with a negative DVOA score).

Both were studs in college, but different kinds of studs. Conner was an elite runner, who was not involved much in the passing game until his final season (when he performed quite well). Samuels was never the primary runner on his team, instead playing a hybrid/H-back/TE role; he was a good runner in limited touches but really excelled in the short and intermediate passing game. Pretty much exactly like what played out last season in Pittsburgh last season.

 
Milkman said:
Jaylen Samuels is probably going to win the starting job in Pittsburgh at some point this season. 

He's just to versatile keep off the field. He's as good of a runner as Conner and a way better receiving weapon tyan Conner. 
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Conner is the far superior runner - tougher to bring down, more physical, finishes runs better.  Samuels is probably the better receiving back but Conner did fine in that category last year too.  This is a good tandem for the Steelers and for FF it's Conner as the starter with Samuels the hand cuff.

 
The Athletic's Mark Kaboly reports that Jaylen Samuels has been a "significant part of the offense" so far in Steelers camp.

Samuels' role comes as James Conner has apparently been handled with kid gloves in an effort to keep him healthy and fresh. Per Kaboly, Samuels has been OC Randy Fichtner’s "Christmas toy that he didn’t learn to play with until the following year." Kaboly reports Samuels has been used both as the backup running back and an offensive weapon who can "can line up just about everywhere." Regardless of Conner's usage, Samuels is sounding like someone who could have standalone fantasy value in PPR leagues.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Aug 5, 2019, 3:54 PM ET
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gabes1919 said:
As much as I love Samuels' talent, it is impossible not to root for Conner after what he struggled through. So I guess I just have to hope for Ingram/Kamara 2.0
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I think that's why so many people are fighting it. I got so much push back when I first mentioned it. Conner is more the stop gap and Samuels is more the future Imho.

 
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Milkman said:
I think that's why so many people are fighting it. I got so much push back when I first mentioned it. Conner is more the stop gap and Samuels is more the future Imho.
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Absolutely part of it. Rooting for Samuels to succeed means, in most cases, that you have to root for Conner to fail in some capacity. I number among those who are reluctant to do that.

If I am honestly assessing, I do see Conner becoming a back similar in style to Mark Ingram. A three down capable back with much more upside as a rusher than a receiver, maybe injury prone, doesn't have to ever come off the field but may work better in a committe with a more capable pass catching back. Samuels' skillset reminds me of Matt Forte, an average to above average rusher but superior pass catcher who doesn't need to come off the field. I think Samuels has room to develop into a better rusher than he was last year. Given that they are both plus players, I think the Steelers may actually go for it with a timeshare if they can get the boss on board (Ben is the boss, obviously)

 
I was flabbergasted Samuels fell to the end of the 5th round (168th overall). He would've been value in the 3rd. I get Samuels was a jack of all trades in college & those guys can sometimes be underappreciated, but he's the epitome of an eyeball prospect. I ended up taking Samuels quite a bit higher than his ADP to make sure I locked him up (& I didn't own Conner).

I still like Conner to be the starter, but from a dynasty perspective, Samuels' longterm value is very good. It doesn't take much imagination to think Samuels could eventually be a feature back (the Steelers might prefer Samuels as opposed to giving a big contract to Conner). And if not for the Steelers, someone else.

 
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Football Jones said:
It doesn't take much imagination to think Samuels could eventually be a feature back
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I think it takes plenty of imagination. In college, he played a hybrid role while first Matt Dayes and later Nyheim Hines played the primary RB role. I think Dayes is now out of the NFL, and Hines is not playing a feature back role for IND. To be a feature back in the NFL, he will have to show running and pass blocking ability he never showed in college. It could happen, but I think it is much more likely he will always be a complementary RB.

 
Just Win Baby said:
I think it takes plenty of imagination. In college, he played a hybrid role while first Matt Dayes and later Nyheim Hines played the primary RB role. I think Dayes is now out of the NFL, and Hines is not playing a feature back role for IND. To be a feature back in the NFL, he will have to show running and pass blocking ability he never showed in college. It could happen, but I think it is much more likely he will always be a complementary RB.
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Josh Jacobs has been in a timeshare since high school, but hes looking at a feature back role. :shrug:

 
Just Win Baby said:
I think it takes plenty of imagination. In college, he played a hybrid role while first Matt Dayes and later Nyheim Hines played the primary RB role. I think Dayes is now out of the NFL, and Hines is not playing a feature back role for IND. To be a feature back in the NFL, he will have to show running and pass blocking ability he never showed in college. It could happen, but I think it is much more likely he will always be a complementary RB.
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To say he hasn't shown any running ability is wrong imo. You're right if you're saying he wasn't featured as a standard RB. However when they did run him he delivered. 182-1107-28

If he's used like they are talking about he won't need more rushing attempts than Conner to be the preferred back to own in FF. If he starts to get more rushing attempts........along with lining up all over the place.......well then the LeVeon Bell comparisons will start. 

He is Pittsburghs next LeVeon Bell imo. 

 
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AndThe best way to use Jaylen is to move him all over the field......TE, WR, RB and everytime you get the mismatch you want give him the ball. Add in 10-15 rushing attempts and you have a top 10 RB. 

If he lines up as a TE enough you'll be able to start him at TE too. 

 
Dr. Dan said:
Josh Jacobs has been in a timeshare since high school, but hes looking at a feature back role. :shrug:
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Fair point. Counterpoints:

  1. The most rushing attempts Samuels ever had in a college season was 78. The most rushing attempts Jacobs ever had in a college season was 120... more than 50% more.
  2. Jacobs went to Alabama, a football powerhouse for which elite players often share time. Samuels went to NC State... not a football powerhouse.
Milkman said:
To say he hasn't shown any running ability is wrong imo. You're right if you're saying he wasn't featured as a standard RB. However when they did run him he delivered. 182-1107-28
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Perhaps I worded that poorly. I did not intend to convey that he never showed running ability in college, but that he would have to show a type/level of running ability he never showed.

In college, a large percentage of Samuels' rushing attempts were non-traditional, like jet sweeps, laterals, wildcat. He was not a guy who had a lot of traditional RB attempts.

 
Just Win Baby said:
Bell averaged 19.8 rushing attempts per game in his career in PIT. No way Samuels ever sees that level of rushing workload IMO.
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I was really impressed with how Samuels ran the ball in that traditional role last year at the end of the season. I'm not sure many RB will see 20 carries a game anymore so I'm not ready to say he will see that type of workload but I can def see similarities. Maybe LeVeon Bell lite. 

 
Milkman said:
Here's how Yahoo says they determine position eligibility. 

https://twitter.com/YahooFantasyCC/status/1158766807894786048?s=20

Samuels could be huge if you can start him at TE all year. 
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I can attest that he was huge last year as my TE.

But on his usage and whether or not he will ever get a true lead back workload, Pitt honestly shouldn’t give him that. He should be a flex/joker, used in many different formations and motioned around the field to confuse and throw off the defenses. Think Riddick or James White but able to play TE and a better overall rusher. Used that way, he could honestly end up with a 75% plus snap count while playing only half of that at RB and be tremendously useful in real and fantasy football.

As a deviation, this is how the Colts should also be using Nyhiem Hines, maybe even more so. Same school, same type of production. I find it very interesting that Samuels ended up as the receiver their last year while Hines was the lead rusher. Samuels TD total indicates to me that it wasn’t because he couldn’t be the man, it was because he was too valuable as an all around weapon. I would not be shocked to see a similar realization in Pitt

 
Jaylen Samuels rushed for 16 yards on four carries and caught 2-of-3 targets for 11 yards in the Steelers' third preseason game.

The Steelers have utilized James Conner this preseason as if he's a near full-time player, which has left Samuels largely playing with backups. This doesn't necessarily guarantee that this translate to the regular season, but it's certainly not a great sign. Some beat reporters are more optimistic -- The Athletic's Mark Kaboly believes Samuels will be a "significant part of the offense" -- but it's best to project Samuels for just a handful of targets and carries per game. Samuels is a bench hold in most fantasy leagues.

Aug 25, 2019, 10:37 PM ET
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Jaylen Samuels rushed three times for 18 yards and caught his lone target for 13 yards in the Steelers' Week 2 win over the Seahawks.

Samuels was targeted in the end zone in the first half -- it didn't count as an official target -- and drew a defensive pass interference on the play to set up James Conner's one-yard touchdown on the very next play. Conner later hurt his knee in the second half, putting Samuels in the lead back spot the remainder of the game. If Conner is to miss time, Samuels will be a must-have RB2 prospect ahead of Week 3 against the 49ers.
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The Frankman said:
Quote
Jaylen Samuels rushed three times for 18 yards and caught his lone target for 13 yards in the Steelers' Week 2 win over the Seahawks.

Samuels was targeted in the end zone in the first half -- it didn't count as an official target -- and drew a defensive pass interference on the play to set up James Conner's one-yard touchdown on the very next play. Conner later hurt his knee in the second half, putting Samuels in the lead back spot the remainder of the game. If Conner is to miss time, Samuels will be a must-have RB2 prospect ahead of Week 3 against the 49ers.
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When did Conner hurt his knee? It doesn't seem like much of a lead back role for Samuels if he had just 4 opportunities.

 
Jaylen Samuels rushed 10 times for 26 yards and one touchdown in the Steelers' Week 4 win over the Bengals Monday night, adding eight catches for 57 yards on eight targets.

After touching it zero times last week against the 49ers, Samuels was a key piece of the Steelers' game plan in this one. He even lined up as the quarterback in wildcat formations a few times and "completed" all three of his passes for 31 yards on touch passes on sweeps. Samuels' rushing score came out of that formation as well. The Steelers feasted on Bengals LBs by hitting Samuels and Conner on a ton of short passes, with Mason Rudolph going 16-of-16 for 140 yards and one score when targeting the two backs. Samuels needs to be owned in all formats, but his weekly usage is unreliable until we see this more consistently. The Steelers get the Ravens in Week 5.
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Brooke Pryor @bepryor

Who needs a quarterback when you've got Jaylen Samuels
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Brooke Pryor @bepryor

Mason Rudolph has also been really good tonight, but getting Samuels more involved in the offense is the best decision the coaching staff has made all season.
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DIdn't watch much of the game - do we expect similar (if perhaps a bit less) usage going forward? Or was this an outlier and he'll be back to < 5 touches?

 
heckmanm said:
DIdn't watch much of the game - do we expect similar (if perhaps a bit less) usage going forward? Or was this an outlier and he'll be back to < 5 touches?
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I would say outlier. They clearly found a successful game plan to win a football game but I doubt having your two RBs out target your entire WR and TE group is going to be a formula for ongoing success. 

 
Conner sounds very questionable for week 5, with an ankle injury. Could be the shot Samuels needs to show his stuff.

 
heckmanm said:
DIdn't watch much of the game - do we expect similar (if perhaps a bit less) usage going forward? Or was this an outlier and he'll be back to < 5 touches?
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I tend to agree with habsfan:

habsfan said:
I would say outlier. They clearly found a successful game plan to win a football game but I doubt having your two RBs out target your entire WR and TE group is going to be a formula for ongoing success. 
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However, with this news, I could see some light for Samuels:

travdogg said:
Conner sounds very questionable for week 5, with an ankle injury. Could be the shot Samuels needs to show his stuff.
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I picked up Jaylen in a dynasty last November, and I am thinking that this might be the best time yet to market him to the Conner owner.  

 
Man of Constant Sorrow said:
I am thinking that this might be the best time yet to market him to the Conner owner.  
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I own Jaylen in all of my leagues (I consistently drafted him in the 10th round in redraft).  I haven't been able to come up with a feasible trade with the Conner owner.  They don't want to give up a legit player and I won't accept less than a legit player.  Maybe if I had a glaring hole I had to fill it would be easier.  I am content to hold onto Jaylen.  Even if Conner doesn't incur a season-ending injury, he is bound to miss a couple three games.  Hopefully, those games happen weeks 14-16.

 
Conner doesn't have to miss much games. Jaylen could blow up this next game, the following week Conner could look like poop and fumble again, they insert Jaylen into the game the second half, he does well, and poof Conner is done. 

 
heckmanm said:
DIdn't watch much of the game - do we expect similar (if perhaps a bit less) usage going forward? Or was this an outlier and he'll be back to < 5 touches?
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Oooooof :lmao:

Fortunately I also have CMC so I still got 41 points out of my RB spots

 
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