Emmanuel Sanders is the seasoned San Francisco 49ers veteran on the roster. Deebo Samuel is the rising rookie star looking to prove himself. You would think Sanders has seen everything in his 10 NFL seasons, but that hasn't stopped Samuel from impressing the veteran.
Samuel racked up 57 catches for 802 receiving yards with three touchdowns. But he's not just dangerous as a target through the air. The rookie also has 14 carries for 159 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
Samuel, like many of his more-experienced 49ers teammates, has proved himself to be a versatile weapon in an offense that thrives on versatility.
Samuel has emerged as a dangerous offensive weapon since Sanders' arrival. Sanders, however, seems to believe that it's just a coincidence and that the rookie is just starting to show what he's capable of.
Sanders joined 95.7 The Game and shared his thoughts on what makes Samuel so impressive and why the young wideout is so difficult to defend.
"Deebo is just a baller, and I think in the second half, more opportunities started coming his way," Sanders told Damon Bruce, Ray Ratto, and Matt Kolsky. "He started making the most of them. He started making a lot of plays. He's one of those guys, when I first got out here, I really didn't know too much about him. But now, the whole league [has been warned] of how deadly and how much of a threat he is."
Samuel owns the fifth-highest overall Pro Football Focus grade among rookie receivers. His 484 yards after the catch are the best among first-year wideouts, and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has a 120.2 passer rating when targeting Samuel.
"I know guys have got to scheme for him," Sanders continued. "I know guys get scared the moment he touches the ball because they know it's an opportunity to go to the house. I'm thankful he's my teammate, and I'm not on the other side, because I know when he touches the ball, he can go the distance at any moment. Especially because this guy is just a rookie, this is his first in the league, but you wouldn't be able to tell. Even how he comes to practice every day, how he comes to work every day.
"I think it's a lot of credit to Wes Welker, our receivers coach, getting those guys right, and letting them understand this is not college anymore. This is the National Football League. It's a grown man's business, and it really sped up the maturation process of both Kendrick (Bourne) and Deebo."
The addition of Sanders and the emergence of Samuel helped the 49ers earn the division title and the best record in the NFC. It could also be critical in the team's quest for a Super Bowl championship.
San Francisco's playoff run begins on Saturday when the team hosts the Minnesota Vikings and Levi's Stadium.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Sanders below.
[omny https://957thegame.radio.com/media/audio-channel/drk-emmanuel-sanders-1820]