Hot off being named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel has landed on Pro Football Focus' 2021 NFL Midseason All-Pro Team as the flex offensive player.
"Before this season, Samuel was just the after-the-catch gimmick receiver in the 49ers' offense," wrote analyst Sam Monson. "But in 2021, he has been a true No. 1 target and consequently leads the league in yards per route run (3.69) — a mark that would rank second over the past 15 years if it held up over the season.
"Samuel is capable of making big plays deep down the field as well as on short passes, including the ability to take a random screen play 75 yards for a touchdown at any moment."
Samuel is having an impressive third-year campaign. He has recorded 44 receptions for 819 yards and four touchdowns through seven games. That puts him on pace for a 1,989-yard season, and his 819 receiving yards are the most by a single player in franchise history through seven games.
Samuel finished Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears with six receptions for 171 yards. It was his fourth game with 100-or-more receiving yards this season and the eighth of his career.
"He's an especially unique guy," teammate Mohamed Sanu said this week of Samuel while speaking with Keiana Martin of 49ers.com. "I've never been around somebody like him because he doesn't do everything better than everybody, but he does it well enough that he's better than everybody, if that makes sense.
"Like, he's faster than you think he is. He runs pretty good routes. He doesn't run the best routes, but he runs pretty good routes. He creates separation. He knows how to use his body. He knows how to attack leverage, and he attacks the ball. Once he gets the ball in his hands, I've never seen nobody run the way he does with the ball in his hands."
The only other 49ers player to be named to the first-team of Pro Football Focus' 2021 NFL Midseason All-Pro Team is left tackle Trent Williams.
"Williams has been the best tackle in the NFL since he came back to the game and started playing in San Francisco," wrote Monson. "This season, he has yet to allow a sack, surrendering just seven total pressures in six games.
"Though it may be hard to believe, Williams is significantly better in the run game, where he simply deletes defenders upon contact. His 97.0 run-blocking grade is more than three grading points higher than any other offensive lineman at any position."
Pro Football Focus lists defensive end Nick Bosa as a second-team (runner-up) edge rusher, behind Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders.