Deebo Samuel was viewed as questionable with illness last week ahead of the San Francisco 49ers’ game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but was ultimately unable to make it onto the field. He finished the game in street clothes, and was later admitted to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia and the related symptom of fluid in his lungs.
There’s currently no timetable for Samuel’s return, but it seems clear that he’ll be missing the team’s upcoming Sunday Night Football clash with the Dallas Cowboys at the very least. In addition to concerns about Samuel’s health and safety, this situation is throwing a wrench into the plans of plenty of fantasy football managers across the country.
One of these managers is a young fan who found himself distraught and sobbing while reviewing the state of his team, which includes Samuel. When asked by his father what was wrong, the boy responded that he’s “done with fantasy football” due to all of his players getting hurt.
This kid was sad about his fantasy team’s players getting hurt and Deebo responded 🥹
(via Bill Parsnells/TT) pic.twitter.com/E8vlBnFTRN
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) October 23, 2024
The passing game was a particular concern for this boy, as Samuel’s situation isn’t his only issue at the receiver position. He also lost Tampa Bay Buccaneers Chris Godwin, who was putting up a career year, to an ugly-looking and season-ending injury. The young fan also humorously complains that Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and Denver Broncos wideout Courtland Sutton, who is presumably now one of his top options, “can’t do anything.”
The boy’s father gave him the advice to “look at the waiver wire and keep it moving,” and that’s right about where the video cuts off. However, it isn’t where the story ends. After the video was posted on social media, Samuel himself commented to reassure the youngster that he’s okay.
It was a compassionate gesture from the 49ers star, who is clearly going through plenty of his own struggles. Perhaps his comment will help the young fan work through what could be his very first “lost season” while playing fantasy, which could be a constructive experience as it likely will not be his last.
Everyone who’s played fantasy football can relate, at least to some degree, with the experience of being disappointed by injuries. It seems that this year in particular, lots of highly-drafted players are quickly becoming non-factors due to developments outside of anyone’s control, a very frustrating way for your season to play out.
Hopefully, things turn around to some degree for this young football enthusiast. After all, it’s a long season, and anything can happen between now and the fantasy playoffs, so he and the rest of the football world will be rooting for a speedy recovery for Samuel and others.
