Deebo Samuel is no Jerry Rice. But the 49ers rookie receiver can always say there was a time when he was better than the greatest receiver in NFL history.

With two first-half catches in Saturday night’s 34-31 win over the Rams, Samuel passed Rice on the 49ers’ single-season rookie receiving list. Samuel’s 50th catch this season eclipsed Rice’s rookie season total of 49 in 1985.

Considering Rice owns more than 100 NFL records, he’s probably OK with Samuel earning a little glory of his own.

Samuel, who has more catches than any other San Francisco wide receiver this season, passed even more 49ers royalty with a short fourth-quarter catch, his 52nd of the season. The second-round pick from South Carolina passed former All-Pro Gene Washington (51 catches in 1969) for the most single-season catches by a 49ers rookie receiver.

Samuel is also near the top of the franchise’s rookie receiver chart in yardage. With 700 yards receiving on the season, Samuel is just 12 yards away from passing Washington for second-most receiving yards for a rookie. (Rice’s record of 927 yards is pretty safe with just one game left).

Still, the 49ers have utilized Samuel as more than just a pass-catcher this season. The 5-foot-11, 216-pounder has shown he can be punishing runner — as the Rams found out in the first half.

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He figured to be an important factor in the 49ers’ pass attack since the Rams did what the could to take away San Francisco’s other two top passing options in George Kittle and Emmanuel Sanders. Rams All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey was locked on Sanders for most of the game and Kittle was consistently double-teamed.

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