Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Deebo Samuel Sr. vs Luther Burden IIIWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Deebo Samuel Sr. is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.5 PPG to Luther Burden III's 7.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Deebo Samuel Sr. is the better fantasy play this season.

Deebo Samuel Sr. has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.5-PPG advantage is real (9.5 to 7.0), and Deebo Samuel Sr.'s 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Luther Burden III is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRWashington Commanders#36PPG LEADER

Deebo Samuel Sr.

PPG

9.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

727

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

WRChicago Bears#60

Luther Burden III

PPG

7.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

652

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Deebo Samuel Sr.

Luther Burden III

Head to Head

9.5 PPG7.0 PPG

16 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Deebo Samuel Sr.: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #36 at the position). Luther Burden III: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #60 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Deebo Samuel Sr. is producing at 43% of elite pace and Luther Burden III at 32%. That ranking gap means Deebo Samuel Sr. carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Deebo Samuel Sr. vs Luther Burden III: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Deebo Samuel Sr. (Washington Commanders) finished the 2025 season averaging 9.5 fantasy points per game in 16 games. Luther Burden III (Chicago Bears) came in at 7.0 PPG over 15 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Deebo Samuel Sr. carries a 2.5-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Target volume is the story here. Deebo Samuel Sr. saw 99 targets in 2025, while Luther Burden III drew 60. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Deebo Samuel Sr., even in weeks where Luther Burden III posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Deebo Samuel Sr. sits Week 7 while Luther Burden III is off Week 10. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Deebo Samuel Sr. (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Luther Burden III (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Deebo Samuel Sr. outscored Luther Burden III by a projected 43 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Deebo Samuel Sr. played 16 games in 2025 compared to Luther Burden III's 15. That durability gap means Deebo Samuel Sr. contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Deebo Samuel Sr. scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Deebo Samuel Sr. saw 99 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Luther Burden III is 8 years younger than Deebo Samuel Sr. (22 vs 30), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Deebo Samuel Sr. vs Luther Burden III: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Deebo Samuel Sr.	Luther Burden III
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.5	7.0
Games Played	16	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	152	105
Receptions	72	47
Rec/Game	4.5	3.1
Receiving Yards	727	652
Rec Yds/Game	45.4	43.5
Receiving TDs	5	2
Targets	99	60
Target Share/Game	6.2	4.0
Age	30	22
Experience	6 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Deebo Samuel Sr. holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 9.5 points per game. Luther Burden III averaged 7.0 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Deebo Samuel Sr. or Luther Burden III in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Deebo Samuel Sr. has the edge at 9.5 PPG compared to Luther Burden III's 7.0 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Deebo Samuel Sr. and Luther Burden III average in 2025?▾

Deebo Samuel Sr. averaged 9.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Luther Burden III averaged 7.0 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 2.5 points per game.

When are Deebo Samuel Sr. and Luther Burden III's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Deebo Samuel Sr. (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Luther Burden III (CHI) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Deebo Samuel Sr. or Luther Burden III a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Deebo Samuel Sr. outscored Luther Burden III by 2.5 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.