Why Deebo Is A Cautionary Tale

More to come ...

Author

Peter Overzet
August 01, 2026

What a wild few days we just experienced in fantasy land—more specifically, in San Francisco fantasy land.

A Christian Kirk calf strain coupled with some incredibly bearish Ricky Pearsall injury news led to some De’Zhaun Stribling mania.

Of course, it all came crashing down to earth when the 49ers’ prodigal son—Deebo Samuel—returned home on a one-year deal to shore up the team’s increasingly fragile pass-catching room and immediately re-clog the Stribling path to early-season relevance.

If you aren’t currently drafting right now … 1) congrats, you are a fairly well-adjusted human being and 2) you can let the dust settle and draft accordingly later this month.

But for those of us who are ripping non-stop best ball drafts, the eight hours of Stribling euphoria—I heard someone say they were eating “stribeye tonight” at one point—I think should serve as a cautionary tale.

Samuel will not be the last free agent WR to sign, and I think we should be on high alert for both the inevitable Stefon Diggs and Keenan Allen signings …

Diggs to the Commanders? Be careful with Antonio Williams and Chig Okonkwo.

Diggs remains the biggest name still available and Washington remains the most intriguing destination for him. Both Williams and Chig, who are currently propped up due to a lack of options on the current depth chart, would be impacted by a Diggs signing. I’d remain very price sensitive on both until the dust settles.

Allen to the Colts? Be careful with Josh Downs.

The Colts have repeatedly been linked to Allen—Shane Steichen connection from Chargers days, etc. Alec Pierce’s ongoing ankle issues make a veteran signing logical. That said, it would be a particularly cruel fate for Downs if the team tries to add depth for Pierce, a deep threat, with Allen—a 34-year-old slot WR who directly overlaps with Downs’ skill set and has a vampiric ability to siphon away targets from anyone in his orbit.

Downs remains a target for me, but I don’t want to chase him up the board with the specter of Keenan looming …

Bank on Drake Maye’s Rise to Stardom

For all the people who a year ago were calling Drake Maye a sleeper, who could have predicted a near-MVP season? After passing for 4,394 yards and 31 TDs, adding in 450 rushing yards and 4 scores, and finishing tied for fourth with 20.4 fantasy points per game, Maye has risen the ranks to superstar status. Now he just got A.J. Brown added to the WR room. He’ll be 24, is projected for another big year and forward-thinking fantasy managers can see Maye as a QB they can count on for years to come.

UNest works the same way. You don't wait until your kid is 16 to start building their financial future. You start now, when time is your single greatest advantage. A tax-advantaged investment account that grows with your child, set up in under 10 minutes. The long game is always the smartest play, on the field and off it.

Fantasy

Around the Watercooler

Your favorite football nerds are back and bringing you the latest news, content and memes from the NFL universe …

🤩 Golden age of running backs? Adjust your draft strategy accordingly.

🎯 When approaching an auction draft, should this TE be your target?

🪓 We thought the waiver wire was cool and all. Then we joined a Guillotine LeagueTM.

🏃🏽‍♂️ Training camp highlights can erase injury concerns. Run up the projections.

🏈 Look for value in IDP drafts. Start with this Chief.

🂡 Game night can get you the 1.01. There can BE only UNO!

👀 Even after a big season, this RB remains a great value play.

🤞 Do you believe in pinky promises? JK Dobbins wants you to …

😡 Baker Mayfield isn’t happy with the Bucs? And they aren’t happy with him??

🐬 Cam Skattebo on backflip-gate. He’s learning.

🤔 Time to trust Kyle Pitts? Abandon all priors.

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Editors’ Picks

We are so back! With training camp news already impacting our rankings and projections, we forgot how fun and frustrating that could be all at once. Also, keep checking our Fantasy Life Draft Guide for some of the best draft prep you’ll find in one spot. And ICYMI, enjoy these articles.

Time to pump the brakes on the Kyren Williams fade? Matthew Berry answers reader questions about his latest rankings.

Is he being a “wet blanket” or actually saving your team? Matthew Freedman lets you decide as he releases his draft-day fades.

Fantasy

Draft From The 1.06: Build Around WR1

The middle of the first round in this year’s fantasy drafts is looking a little cloudy. The first five players are pretty locked in, any combination of Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Ja’Marr Chase, Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are going in those first five picks. At 1.06, it can be any of a number of RBs or WRs. Does the draft start here?

Chris Allen plots the draft strategy from the 1.06 utilizing our Draft Champion, but first offers up the Anatomy of a WR1, where he breaks down what statistical benchmarks a player must reach before we can call him a top dog out wide. Then he goes through multiple scenarios on what can be done from that spot in the draft. ⤵️

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Late-Round QB Draft Strategy: Pick A Pair

We’ve talked quite a bit about the late-round QB strategy, which often sounds like a winner until Josh Allen posts 300 yards with 3 TD passes and a pair of running scores. But is there a way to up the ante even more on this popular draft strategy?

Jorge Martin explored the concept of a quarterback platoon, taking a pair of signal-callers and alternating starting them based on who has the most optimal matchup. In doing a mock draft employing our Draft Champion, Matthew Stafford and Malik Willis were the targets, focusing on their best matchups. What do you think? ⤵️

Elite TE or Late TE? That is the Draft Question

Should you go for Brock Bowers or Trey McBride early, or punt the position and load up elsewhere? Kendall and Pete take each side of the debate as they build Underdog best ball rosters. Don’t miss an episode of the Fantasy Life Show, SUBSCRIBE TODAY.

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