Samuel should only be drafted in very deep leagues as he looks to carve out a role in Buffalo's offense. Samuel received only 46 targets in 14 games with the Bills in 2024. He will likely need an injury to a starting wide receiver to become relevant in Fantasy leagues, and even in that scenario, Samuel would probably be nothing more than a streamer.
Samuel (hamstring) missed Saturday's preseason game in Tampa Bay due to an illness, Sal Capaccio of WGR Sports Radio 550 Buffalo reports.
Samuel didn't make the trip from Buffalo with his teammates, which was the reason he wasn't spotted with the rest of the Bills' wide receivers during warmups. He missed almost three weeks of practice due to a hamstring injury before returning to the field as a limited participant as of Aug. 15. Considering the Bills would incur a $8.635 million dead cap hit if he's cut this coming week, Samuel appears certain to included among the Bills' initial 53-man roster.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Not in line to play Saturday
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Samuel (hamstring) isn't in uniform ahead of Saturday's preseason game at Tampa Bay, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News reports.
Samuel began sitting out at practice in late July due to a hamstring injury and only returned to the field in a limited capacity as of Aug. 15. He thus won't see any preseason action as a result of the health concern. Samuel has $6.91 million guaranteed on his current deal, and the Bills would take on $8.635 million in dead money if he gets cut this coming week, so he seems like a lock to be on the team's 53-man roster to kick off the campaign.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: In line for limited practice
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Samuel (hamstring) will be limited at practice Friday, Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports.
Samuel continues to manage a hamstring issue, but his participation in Friday's session is step in the right direction for the wideout, who is competing for targets in a Buffalo WR corps that's led by Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman and also includes Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore. Samuel seems more likely to get snaps in the Bills' Aug. 23 preseason finale than Sunday's contest against the Bears.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Should practice soon
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Bills GM Brandon Beane said Wednesday that Samuel (hamstring) will return to practice "sooner rather than later" but not as quickly as Elijah Moore (leg), who he said may be back on the field Thursday or Friday, Ryan O'Halloran of The Buffalo News reports.
Samuel hasn't practiced since Sunday due to a hamstring injury, and Buffalo is likely taking a cautious approach to his health due to the nature of soft-tissue issues. The veteran wideout is looking to bounce back after a disappointing inaugural campaign with the Bills in which he totaled a 31-253-1 receiving line across 14 regular-season appearances. Samuel is competing with Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer and Moore to establish a pecking order behind top wideout Khalil Shakir.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Missing practice with hamstring issue
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Samuel isn't practicing Sunday due to a hamstring injury, Katherine Fitzgerald of The Buffalo News reports.
Samuel missed three regular-season games last year due to injury, so health will be an important aspect for him in his second campaign with the Bills. It's not yet clear how severe the veteran wideout's issue is, but Buffalo is likely to be cautious with him given that the team is in the early stages of training camp. Samuel is likely in line for a depth role in the Bills' wideout corps this season.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Ready to bounce back?
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Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday he has a "better understanding" of how Samuel "can help us and the role that he may play for us" entering Year 2 with the team, Ralph Ventre of SI.com reports.
Samuel disappointed relative to high expectations after signing a three-year, $24 million contract with Buffalo in March 2024, finishing the 2024 campaign with just 31 catches for 253 yards and one score (on 46 targets), plus five rushes for 14 yards across 14 regular-season games. McDermott attributed Samuel's struggles to both "being new to the system last year" and having "battled some injuries." Samuel endured turf toe in training camp and the early portion of the regular season, missed Week 8 with a shoulder injury, and then was sidelined Weeks 16 and 17 with a ribs issue. As McDermott notes, though, the 28-year-old "got into a little bit of a rhythm late in the year," putting up a 6-81-2 receiving line across three playoff appearances. Khalil Shakir's firm grip on slot reps clouds Samuel's path to consistent involvement on offense, but improved health alone could be enough for him to improve on his 2024 showing.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Scores in AFCCG loss to Kansas City
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Samuel secured one of three targets for four yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 32-29 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
Samuel emerged as a notable contributor for Buffalo's offense during the playoffs, securing six of eight targets for 81 yards and two scores in three postseason appearances, an encouraging development after his underwhelming regular season. Across 14 regular-season games, Samuel compiled 31 catches (on 46 targets) for just 253 yards and one touchdown, in addition to five carries for 14 yards. The 28-year-old has two more years remaining on his contract with the Bills, though the team will have a potential 'out' to consider after the 2025 campaign.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Pops for long TD in wild-card win
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Samuel caught all three of his targets for 68 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 31-7 wild-card round win over the Broncos.
The veteran wideout was having a quiet afternoon until he got his hands on a Josh Allen pass early in the fourth quarter and turned it into a 55-yard score with some impressive elusiveness in the open field. Samuel had an injury-plagued regular season and didn't make much of a contribution, but after catching seven of eight targets for 52 yards in Week 18, he appears to be finding a groove at the perfect time. Samuel will look to continue riding this wave of momentum into a divisional-round clash with the Ravens.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Leading receiver in return
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Samuel caught seven of eight targets for 52 yards in Sunday's 23-16 loss to the Patriots.
Seeing his first action since Week 15 after recovering from a rib injury, Samuel led the Bills in receiving on the day as the club rested a lot of key personnel ahead of the playoffs. While it was an effective way to shake off any rust, Samuel isn't likely to see the same kind of volume next weekend in the wild-card round against the Broncos. Samuel wraps up his first regular season with Buffalo having compiled a 31-253-1 line on 46 targets over 14 appearances.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Active versus Patriots
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Samuel (rib) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Patriots.
Samuel, who was sidelined the last two weeks, headed into the weekend listed as questionable, but he'll be available for Buffalo's regular-season finale. With the team locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC, a number of the Bills' key skill players could have their workloads managed, while fellow wideout Amari Cooper (personal) was previously ruled out for the contest. In that context, Sunday's game offers Samuel an opportunity to log some snaps prior to the postseason, which makes him an option for deep leaguers in need of a Week 18 fill-in.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Questionable due to rib injury
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Samuel (rib) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots.
Buffalo has been one of the healthiest teams in the NFL all season, and that trend continues for Week 18. Samuel's the only questionable player for the Bills, while linebacker Terrel Bernard (quadriceps) is out. Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic believes Samuel could be among the team leaders in playing time at wide receiver if he suits up, as Buffalo is expected to rest key contributors -- including star quarterback Josh Allen -- for the majority of Sunday's regular-season finale.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Stays limited Thursday
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Samuel (rib) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Samuel had his reps capped during Wednesday's walk-through session, and he continued to operate with some restrictions when the Bills held a more traditional practice a day later. Though Buffalo is secure as the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs, head coach Sean McDermott expressed hope that Samuel would be able to take the field Sunday against the Patriots, even though no postseason implications are at stake. The Bills may just want to see Samuel get some live reps heading into the playoffs after he was sidelined for both of the team's previous two games due to the injury.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Limited to begin Week 18 prep
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Samuel (ribs) will be a limited participant in Wednesday's walk-though practice, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News reports.
The Bills have clinched the AFC's No. 2 seed, but head coach Sean McDermott noted Monday that he's hopeful that Samuel will be able to get some playing time this Sunday against the Patriots after having missed two straight contests, per Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com. Samuel has two more chances to practice fully before Buffalo posts its designations for the Week 18 game.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Inactive Sunday
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Samuel (ribs) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jets.
Samuel, who was inactive for the Bills' Week 16 win over the Patriots, will miss his second straight game, which sets the stage for Khalil Shakir, Amari Cooper, Keon Coleman, Mack Hollins and Tyrell Shavers to handle the team's wideout duties versus New York. Samuel's next chance to see game action will arrive next weekend in Buffalo's regular-season finale against New England.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Questionable for Sunday
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Samuel (ribs) will be limited in Friday's practice and listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Jets, Alec White of the Bills' official site reports.
Samuel, who was inactive for the Bills' Week 16 win over the Patriots, also was deemed limited Wednesday and Thursday. If he's able to return to action this weekend, he'll carry modest fantasy lineup upside, however, given that Khalil Shakir, Amari Cooper, Keon Coleman and Mack Hollins are on hand to absorb wideout targets versus New York.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Estimated as limited Wednesday
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Samuel (rib) was listed as a limited practice participant on Wednesday's estimated injury report.
Samuel injured a rib during the Bills' Week 15 win over the Lions and was sidelined for this past Sunday's 24-21 victory over New England. He didn't play this past Sunday despite logging consecutive limited practices to end the week, so he may have to practice in full Thursday or Friday in order to be cleared to play against the Jets on Sunday. Over his last five appearances, Samuel has caught 12 passes (on 19 targets) for 109 yards and one touchdown and has gained eight yards on two carries.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Inactive in Week 16
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Samuel (rib) is listed as inactive Sunday versus the Patriots.
Samuel made an early exit from last Sunday's win at Detroit due to a shoulder injury, but he was listed as limited on all three Week 16 practice reports due to a rib issue and entered the weekend as questionable. With his lack of availability confirmed for this Sunday's contest, he'll stick to the sideline while the Bills roll with Amari Cooper, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman and Mack Hollins as the core of their receiving corps.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Questionable for Sunday
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Head coach Sean McDermott noted that Samuel (rib) will be limited in Friday's practice and listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots, Alec White of the Bills' official site reports.
Samuel also was deemed limited in Wednesday's walkthrough and Thursday's practice as he manages a rib issue. In any case, now that Keon Coleman is back in action after missing time with a wrist injury, Samuel looks like a hit-or-miss fantasy option in a Buffalo wideout corps that also includes Amari Cooper, Khalil Shakir and Mack Hollins. In 13 games this season, Samuel has posted a 24-201-1 line on 38 targets, while adding five carries for 14 yards.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Remains limited Thursday
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Samuel (ribs) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
The Bills held a walkthrough Wednesday, and Samuel remained limited in the first official practice of the week Thursday due to a rib injury he suffered in Buffalo's Week 15 win over Detroit. Samuel's snap count diminished due to the return of rookie wideout Keon Coleman, and the former shouldn't have a heavy role in the Bills' offense against the Patriots on Sunday if he does suit up. Over his last five games, Samuel has logged 12 catches (on 19 targets) for 109 yards and one touchdown while adding eight rushing yards on two carries.
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Bills' Curtis Samuel: Limited in practice
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Samuel (shoulder) was listed as a limited participant during Wednesday's walk-through practice.
Samuel injured his shoulder during Sunday's 48-42 win over Detroit and made an early exit in the fourth quarter. He took on a 27.8 percent snap share and 28.6 percent route share through the first three quarters, dropping back to the No. 5 receiver role with Keon Coleman returning from an elbow injury. An absence against the Patriots this Sunday wouldn't have much of a fantasy impact, apart from slightly boosting playing-time projections for Buffalo's other wide receivers.
