Stat shows 49ers' Deebo Samuel as NFL's YAC king by significant margin
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Stat shows Deebo as NFL's YAC king by significant margin originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The 49ers have built their offense around players with a unique ability to create yards after the catch. George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk certainly qualify.
But Deebo Samuel has taken it to another level.
Fresh off a career-best performance in the 49ers' 23-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Samuel currently leads the NFL in average yards after the catch per reception by a wide margin.
Leaders in YAC per reception:
1. Deebo Samuel - 12.9
2. Dalvin Cook - 10.4
3. Austin Ekeler - 9.7
4. James White - 9.4
5. Alvin Kamara - 9.1 pic.twitter.com/jy2JWAovnt— PFF (@PFF) December 3, 2020
Two things stand out right away from that stat. For one, Samuel is the only receiver in the top five in the league, with the other four being running backs. And secondly, 12.9 yards! Think about that.
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On average, every time Samuel catches a ball, he generates enough yardage for a first down -- with some to spare. That's quite a luxury for the 49ers, especially considering all the different ways they get the ball in his hands.
The second-year pro is a perfect fit for Kyle Shanahan's offense, and his best still is yet to come. That's got to be a terrifying thought for opposing defenses, considering how much trouble Samuel already causes them.