Every season a Round 4 or 5 wide receiver emerges as a genuine top-12 option. From Chris Godwin in 2019 to DK Metcalf in 2020, finding that midround WR gold can result in fantasy titles. In 2021, one of our favorite bets to explode in this range is 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk.
According to Niners Nation, Aiyuk “has to be mentioned among the best players at any position during this camp.”
The second-year wideout has routinely made highlight-reel plays, to the point that fellow WR Deebo Samuel raved, “if he can come off the ball like he’s supposed to every play, he’s kind of an unguardable guy.“
Granted, predicting a Top-12 season from Aiyuk isn’t nearly as bold as it may seem, considering he’s already ripped off not just top-ten fantasy numbers as a rookie, but actually had a stretch from Weeks 7-to-15 within the top-three as the team’s alpha wide receiver.
WRs who scored more PPG than Brandon Aiyuk (20.3) from Weeks 7-15:
Davante Adams (28.5)
Tyreek Hill (27.5)*End List*
— Wolf of Roto Street (@RotoStreetWolf) May 6, 2021
Over this span, Aiyuk was an absolute monster. Indeed, he benefited from the absence of George Kittle and, at times, Samuel. Still, Aiyuk proved he could shoulder the entire receiving workload and perform like a genuine Alpha WR1. He displayed all the necessary traits: deep speed, monster run-after-the-catch ability, the quicks to destroy the short and intermediate game, and can even high point the ball despite his smaller frame. In short, he does it all
Hence, why we LOVE him.
Yes, we understand the targets might not be quite as high with Kittle and Samuel healthy. Still, Aiyuk could emerge atop the target totem pole. Even if not, he was so hyper-efficient with his work, he averaged 12.5 yards per reception and racked up 4.8 yards after the catch.
“One thing that we always pick on BA about is coming off the ball because he has everything else — the routes, the hands,” Samuel told 49ers beat reporters. “So, if he can come off the ball like he’s supposed to every play, he’s kind of an unguardable guy.“
Not to mention Aiyuk did this with a host of quarterbacks under center. In a matter of time, he’ll play with the most talented quarterback of his career, Trey Lance. The rookie has an arm capable of opening up the 49ers passing game and unlocking Aiyuk’s true ceiling.
As added gravy, the 49ers face the softest schedule against the pass, especially over the playoffs. Here, they face the Falcons, Titans, and Texans. For those drafting high-stakes Best Ball leagues that require massive Weeks 15-17 to take down the whole thing, a Lance-Aiyuk stack could work wonders.
According to Rotoworld ADP, Aiyjuk is drafted in the RB purgatory rounds around pick 60. Contrastingly, our resident Wolf is much higher, ranking Aiyuk +10 spots on his ECR at 40 overall and +5 spots in his WR rankings as the WR20.
