"On the field, I didn't know it was like a gimme, a freebie, wide open," Aiyuk said. All signs pointed to a great sophomore year in 2021, and then, everything changed. In an effort to help Aiyuk reach the next level, linebacker Fred Warner challenged him mentally and physically in training camp, never shying away from a thud in padded practices or a colorful verbal exchange. Tampa Bay also has not allowed a touchdown to a receiver in its past two games against Cleveland and New Orleans. Aiyuk makes me the most nervous with Brock Purdy starting for Jimmy Garoppolo (foot) because I'm worried that Aiyuk won't be able to make many plays down the field. The NFL's 2023 Hall of Fame Game will feature the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets, the Hall announced Tuesday. Simply a remarkable season from him. It is what he gets paid to do. 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is positioned for a big 2022 season. Aiyuk had a 23.3 percent target share during his bananas six-game stretch and put up 20.8 points on average. The 2022 offseason couldnt have gone more differently for Aiyuk, though. 6 Ducks. San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports. The Eagles have been one of the NFL's top teams all season. Free shipping for many products! Aiyuk is coming off a career year. It seemed like another early draft pick had been wasted by the Niners, just like Pettis. The 24-year . In fact, on a team full of established stars such as Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey, Aiyuk's emergence has flown under the radar. The idea, according to Aiyuk, was that if you establish the right habits daily they eventually become second nature and translate onto the field. More than just a hamstring injury contributed to San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk seeing limited action in a 41-33 win over the Detroit Lions Sunday -- he's also getting more competition for playing time from Trent Sherfield, according to coach Kyle Shanahan. After the fifth-year option talks . Aiyuk caught his lone target for 10 yards in Sunday's 31-7 NFC Championship Game loss to the Eagles. Former DT Shawn Knight (Reed HS, NV . But lets go a little deeper, with five things you might not know about one of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolos new weapons. Of course there's potential for Aiyuk to have a monster game -- he's due and the Raiders should provide a bunch of opportunities for the Niners to dunk on them. His position is wide receiver. But when he went home and watched the game film, it was a third-down drop in the end zone that he couldn't shake. However, the 49ers will have a number of hefty contracts to keep in tow, and that number will shrink awfully quickly. The San Francisco 49ers got a jolt offensively when they made the bold decision in October to trade four draft picks to add Christian McCaffrey to an already deep group of playmake Find out why Sam Panayotovich likes the 49ers to cover and other best bets for this weekend's championship round games. Aiyuk is delivering the most consistent football of his career, and that was also a key to the 49ers' big win over the Rams. Those events will reshape the San Francisco 49ers roster and the other 31 NFL squads. On Sunday against the Lions, he notched just his second career TD catch on a cameo appearance from rookie quarterback Trey Lance. The 49ers suffered injuries to both of its active quarterbacks in this crushing playoff loss, resulting in down receiving games for Aiyuk and the rest of the receiving unit. I'm optimistic Aiyuk will snare at least a 20% target share, but nervous that Purdy won't have to throw too much. The second-year receiver saw 20 snaps on the field, which was the second-most among receivers on the team behind only Deebo Samuel, who was on the field for 28 snaps. Does Chargers' offense need to change? "So when I saw the film it was even more sickening. Tag Lamar Jackson? But let's go a little deeper, with five things you might not . QB Brock Purdy Lofts a 23-Yard Pass to WR Brandon Aiyuk. That includes ESPN, which released its early picks for Super Bowl 58 participants, league MVPs, and breakout players. He's the 49ers' best pure wide receiver on the roster, so they need him aboard. SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Even after posting a fourth straight stat line with at least six receptions and 80 receiving yards, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk couldn't help but lament the one catch he didn't make. Aiyuk saw his lowest target total since Week 5, as each of Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle played a more prominent role in the passing attack. I still feel as if throughout the games we've played I've left a lot of plays out there, so that's my main thing is just trying to capitalize on every single opportunity and every play that I get. A plethora of decisions await the 49ers this offseason. Aiyuk led all 49ers position players with 65 yards from scrimmage in this low-scoring affair. The McCaffrey effect: Despite arriving in Week 7, CMC had 1,509 combined yards for the 49ers, which was 362 more than the next highest player, Brandon Aiyuk, who appeared in every game. Aiyuk continued to produce like the 49ers' top wideout even with Deebo Samuel (hamstring) back in action. It certainly wasn't as if the 49ers had trouble throwing the ball -- Jimmy Garoppolo turned in what was a rock-solid performance (17 of 25, 314 yards). The NFL's highest-paid players at every position: Here's who makes the most money, from QB to punter, Trade for Aaron Rodgers? When asked about his team's success with the play, GM Howie Roseman said, "All I know is everything we're doing is legal and works.". Does Chargers' offense need to change? The guy's stock is always pointing up and there is no reason to doubt he won't continue to ascend. After sitting on 39 at halftime, Aiyuk scaled the century mark on this 20-yard connection from Brock Purdy: #49ers Brandon Aiyuk goes over 1,000 yards receiving for the 1st time in his career on . The YAC machine will look to stay hot against the Cardinals in Mexico City next Monday. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Aiyuk appeared in all 17 games San Francisco played during the regular season, whereas Samuel was limited to only 13 because of injuries. Although he does not have a decision yet, he recognizes the benefit of giving the team an answer in the near future. Aiyuk played a part in several momentous upsets during his days in Tempe, but he became a household name in the PAC-12 on Nov. 23, 2019. Look, the salary cap is maneuverable. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Last season Aiyuk was their go-to guy. The first time they dropped back, were going to break their quarterback both of them," Slay said of Aiyuk caught his lone target for 10 yards in Sunday's 31-7 NFC Championship Game loss to the Eagles. The writing was on the wall in training camp when he was arguably the best player there. 1 receiver and the next great wideout in the NFL. Historical Trends Aiyuk hauled in five of eight targets for 65 yards in Sunday's 13-0 win over New Orleans. Brandon Aiyuk was drafted in the first round of the 2020 draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Free shipping for many products! It would set a bad precedent if the 49ers neglected to pick up his fifth-year option. That's a lot of money for a player who has spent a good chunk of his career injured and hasn't been able to reach expectations while on the football, It's the offseason, which means it's also prediction season for many sports news outlets. Samuel got his payday last offseason, and the 49ers are committing big money to him through the 2025 season. All the snap counts and final tallies from a 15-5 season Thats a scary thought. Brandon Aiyuk's fantasy outlook for 2022. 13 if Kinlaw was gone. If you havent heard, Aiyuk has one of the more unique wingspans from this years draft class. So much for thinking about whether or not Aiyuk would slump as he did early in 2021, his second season. When they needed a big play in the passing game, they would look to Aiyuk.In this clip, Oregon had all of the momentum at this point of the game. They point to . "His arms are so long that I'm learning his catch radius and how it's just different. The 24-year-old finishes the regular season with career highs in receptions (78), receiving yards (1,015) and touchdowns (eight) across 17 games. And while his streak of at least six and 80 ended in Mexico City, Aiyuk more than atoned for that by turning both of his catches into touchdowns. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. A lot can change in the next year, but one thing is likely to occur given the pattern is that Aiyuk will continue to ball out. In Weeks 1-7, Aiyuk was targeted 16 times. He has played at a high level. 0:59; Ruggs, Lamb headline McShay's All-Satellite team. 10 deep attempts is the most in a game for any #49ers QB since Colin Kaepernick had 10 vs. New Orleans in 2014. From a pound-for-pound perspective, Samuel is much more potent and versatile than Aiyuk. Aiyuk simply has too much upside to bench in Fantasy, but the downside is a real factor in this game. The 49ers looked out of sorts until a seemingly dirty play by a Seahawks defender propelled San Franciso to a torrid second half. In the four-game stretch before the Niners beat the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night, Aiyuk had 27 catches for 330 yards and three touchdowns. In his first season in the league, the Arizona State product posted 748 receiving yards in just 12 games. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2020 Panini Illusions Brandon Aiyuk #27 Rookie RC at the best online prices at eBay! Geoff Schwartz, Sammy P and Jason McIntyre teamed up to bring you their best NFL prop bets for the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs. 2:31; Aiyuk blows by Oregon coverage for 81-yard TD. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2020 Select Brandon Aiyuk Concourse Silver Prizm Rookie Card RC #66 49ers at the best online prices at eBay! With Purdy taking over for Garoppolo in Week 13 against Miami, Aiyuk had five catches for 46 yards on nine targets. That being said, Aiyuk still possesses the fantasy potential to warrant consideration in DFS formats for the upcoming NFC Championship Game against the Eagles next Sunday. Aiyuk had an impressive 16 such catches and, while he too excels with the ball in his handsAiyuk and tight end George Kittle each averaged 6.7 yards after catch per reception in 2021no San . Brandon Aiyuk was born in Reno, NV. 10 teams that could have interest, and how much cash he could get. If the 49ers run all over the Chargers' weak run defense, there won't be much for Aiyuk to pick up statistically. What if the 49ers faced the Bills in Super Bowl XXV? Impact Aiyuk took a bit of a back seat to Deebo Samuel (6-133-1), who reclaimed . Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Brandon Aiyuk & Javon Kinlaw 2020 Panini Contenders Round Numbers RN-KA Card at the best online prices at eBay! While Deebo Samuel is a household name, fellow 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk actually put together the more impressive 2022 campaign. Where was Brandon Aiyuk born? Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of these, #11 - WIDE RECEIVER - SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS. San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk might have turned a corner with Kyle Shanahan on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! You can reach him at gabe.fernandez@sfgate.com. "Brandon is having a great year," Kittle said. Besides, this time next year we could be talking about an extension for Aiyuk. It seems the 49ers don't feel he's reliable right now. To me he runs the ball like Walter Payton used to, Likens said (h/t Sports360AZ). In three appearances with Brock Purdy, Aiyuk is averaging just 8.3 PPR points with nine catches for 152 yards and one touchdown on 16 targets. Even with the 49ers returning to full strength on offense, Aiyuk should remain a consistent DFS option heading into the divisional round. How much does Brandon Aiyuk weigh? They can't refuse to pick up the option after the season Aiyuk just had. He reminds me a little bit of DeSean (Jackson). Shanahan told reporters afterwards that Sherfield has earned the right to be out there more.. Aiyuk will enter the final year of his rookie contract looking to build off of the strides he made in 2022. section: | slug: | sport: football | route: player_profile_fantasy | The 24-year-old Aiyuk still produced a solid fantasy line with a couple of big chunk plays, although he did drop a would-be touchdown that hit him in the hands in the corner of the end zone. . Ten games into the season, Aiyuk is leading the 49ers in receiving yards (587) and touchdowns (six). Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland . OverTheCap.com projects Kinlaw's fifth-year option to cost about $10.5 million, all of which would be guaranteed. "He's playing at a high level.". We still have free agency and the NFL Draft to get through. A first-round NFL Draft pick in 2020, Aiyuk had a strong finish to his rookie year, finishing with 748 receiving yards and five touchdowns. The 49ers have until the first day of May to make a decision on that option. Aiyuk showed he was able to rise to the high standards Kyle Shanahan had set for him, and he belonged in the NFL. Aiyuk corralled all six of his targets for 81 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 31-14 win over the Rams. Only five other receivers at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine had at least an 80-inchwingspan like Aiyuk, and none of them were shorter than 6-foot-3. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! There is also the factor of him enhancing either Trey Lance or Brock Purdy. The speedster spent the past two seasons at Arizona State, lighting up PAC-12 defenses with an unmatched ability to run after the catch. 3 Fantasy receiver in the majority of leagues. The San Francisco 49ers have a situation on their hands at the right tackle position this offseason, with starter Mike McGlinchey expecting to command a high salary as a free agent. His zodiac sign is Pisces. The ensuing numbers seem to imply that Aiyuk is heading in the right direction Sherfield got one more target than him, but he saw eight fewer snaps. San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk might have turned a corner with Kyle Shanahan on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Can Giants find a No. Brandon Aiyuk going without a target in Week 1 left 49ers fans concerned the former first-round pick may be falling out of favor in San Francisco. Shanahan is clearly pleased with his receivers hard work as well, saying Aiyuk was developing in all the stuff he needed to do to get better.. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Those occasional flashes have turned into the standard, making multiple "Wow" catches. 49ers Mailbag: What did John Lynch say at the combine? Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images). 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. All teams and players mentioned are registered trademarks of the NFL and its respective teams. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk rises up to make a . It would seem silly for the Niners not to pick up that option, but its also plausible they look to extend him beforehand. John Lynch acknowledges unlikelihood of 49ers re-signing Mike McGlinchey, 49ers, Jimmy Garoppolo union has "run its course," says John Lynch, 49ers Notebook: John Lynch high on Deommodore Lenoir, expects Tashaun Gipson and Brian Griese to return, John Lynch, 49ers may examine offseason QB market; GM asked about Tom Brady, 49ers tender one-year deal to WR Jauan Jennings, announce Taybor Pepper signing, John Lynch: 49ers' Trey Lance dropping back while throwing, "recovering well". Aiyuk now has five touchdowns across his last five games, and he's also topped 80 receiving yards on four occasions in that span. He is a player the 49ers need to retain and it starts with the fifth-year option. All rights reserved. Considering the salary cap crunch, will the 49ers pick up Aiyuk's fifth-year option? Maybe Kittle is a player who they end up seeing as not as impactful or that his best years are behind him. 1 WR? Brandon Aiyuk is a name many Niners fans struggle to hear without wincing a little bit. https://t.co/JV6lZ40PYD, 49ers Minutia Minute: Season-long snap counts highlight Brandon Aiyuks grit, Christian McCaffreys value Purdy's previous high was 5 vs. "You can be smarter with him because he has that foundation, he has that stamina to where he's built to go," Shanahan said. Golden Nuggets His last name is pronounced EYE-yook. Aiyuk is coming off a career year. Brandon Aiyuk is a name many Niners fans struggle to hear without wincing a little bit. Every game you see him kind of get closer and closer to breaking that big one. As such, it wasnt a bad idea to think Aiyuk would be the primary beneficiary. He did, and by recording those 1,015 receiving yards, he was technically the Niners top wide receiver in 2022 after setting that career-high. As the San Francisco 49ers began 2021 offseason programs, rumors began that Aiyuk had found himself in head coach Kyle Shanahans doghouse..