Impact Samuel was used almost exclusively as a running back in the first half, but Houston's defense was prepared every time he lined up in the backfield. The dual-threat playmaker was able to finally break free for a 45-yard touchdown on a missile from Trey Lance in the fourth quarter. The rookie quarterback missed on another potential long score when he didn't see that Samuel beat his defender down the field, so we got to see the highs and lows of having a raw talent like Lance under center. Jimmy Garoppolo's (thumb) status for next week's tilt against the Rams is currently unknown, but the star wideout has proven that he can produce with either signal caller this season. Potentially matching up against shutdown corner Jalen Ramsey may not be as big of a problem for Samuel as it would be for other teams' top wideouts, as he can line up all over the field and is routinely put in motion in Kyle Shanahan's offensive scheme.
JANUARY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
