With each passing game this season, the Brandon Aiyuk dynasty discussion got a little more complicated. His role changed in a significant way, and he plays alongside three other high-end playmakers, but Aiyuk proved worthy of an increase in fantasy football value as he continues to succeed in this Brock Purdy-led offense.
Where do things stand going into 2024 for the dynamic San Francisco 49ers wide receiver? You have to start with a talent evaluation of the young star and then branch out and try to project the trajectory of this offense as a whole.
After making a Super Bowl appearance, it feels reasonably safe to say that this offense is going to make tweaks as opposed to significant changes, which plays favorably into the odds of Aiyuk continuing to pile up the counting numbers the way he did in 2023.
Brandon Aiyuk’s Dynasty Outlook
Over the past year and a half, it’s become clear that Purdy is much more than Mr. Irrelevant. The 24-year-old out of Iowa State certainly looks the part of a franchise quarterback, and that’s a big part of the receiver analysis in dynasty.
The boxes I look for a WR to check when it comes to foundational pieces:
- Proven skill set
- Expanding statistical profile
- Role upside
- Stability/potential under center
- Positive franchise trajectory
When projecting forward, a receiver positioned well in three of those categories has my interest. A player like Aiyuk, who comfortably hits all five, is gold.
That second checked box is what fuels my optimism long term. In 2023, Aiyuk’s aDOT (average depth of target) rose by 40.9%. It’s not rare for a high-pedigree receiver (2020 first-round pick) to expand his route tree, but very few see their catch rate increase as this development takes place.
Even fewer are making these strides with a QB who is also finding his way in the NFL.
#49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk is trying to turn this into a track meet 💨
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 15, 2023
It’s fair to assume that the Purdy/Aiyuk tandem is more likely to improve rather than regress in the coming seasons — a scary thought for defenses and opposing fantasy managers alike.
WR Deebo Samuel is two years Aiyuk’s senior, and while he’s a special talent in his own right, Samuel’s versatility is more his calling card than a true connection shown with Purdy. In the two regular seasons with QB1 under center:
- Aiyuk: 73.9 yards per game, 13.3 aDOT, 70.6% catch rate
- Samuel: 54.6 yards per game, 6.1 aDOT, 67.0% catch rate
While the overall fantasy production paints a picture of a WR1a/WR1b situation in San Francisco for the foreseeable future, the underlying statistical profile points to Aiyuk’s direction elevating into the alpha receiver sooner rather than later.
Samuel is an amazing and versatile option, but when it comes to being Purdy’s top target, there is no denying the trajectory of this depth chart.
Aiyuk’s trending in the right direction, but what does that mean in terms of where he stacks up against other elite wide receivers?
Aiyuk’s Dynasty Ranking
Where does Aiyuk land in the dynasty WR landscape going into the 2024 offseason? Here are Soppe’s latest dynasty rankings, featuring where Aiyuk lands in comparison to other top names at the position.
1) Ja’Marr Chase | CIN
2) Tyreek Hill | MIA
3) CeeDee Lamb | DAL
4) Justin Jefferson | MIN
5) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET
6) A.J. Brown | PHI
7) Garrett Wilson | NYJ
8) Jaylen Waddle | MIA
9) Chris Olave | NO
10) Brandon Aiyuk | SF
11) Puka Nacua | LAR
12) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND
13) Nico Collins | HOU
14) Rashee Rice | KC
15) Marvin Harrison Jr. | FA
16) DJ Moore | CHI
17) Amari Cooper | CLE
18) Drake London | ATL
19) Malik Nabers | FA
20) Tee Higgins | CIN
Should You Trade Aiyuk in Dynasty?
Are you considering trading Aiyuk? Our PFN Trade Analyzer allows you to find the best trades to make in seconds!
Aiyuk is exactly the type of player I love to target in dynasty trades. The short-term and long-term outlooks are nothing short of elite, and he has plenty of support from his head coach to his quarterback to his complementary pieces that attract defensive attention.
Of course, such an asset is going to cost you a pretty penny, but the thought is that you’re investing in a rock-solid stock that is affordable now compared to what it will be by this time next year.
Aiyuk falls outside of my top tier at the position because his access to a truly special season has more roadblocks than that of Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson or Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase. Yet, paying up for a floor is a strategy that I love to employ.
Many dynasty managers make a habit of chasing a clear-cut WR1 role, such as Indianapolis’ Michael Pittman Jr., or an alpha physical makeup like Seattle’s DK Metcalf.
I don’t have anything against either of those receivers, but the name of the game is to maximize your overall win equity. Aiyuk, for me, holds that edge when taking a step back and looking at the entire dynasty picture.
If you need an idea of what the potential here is, here are some other notable WRs and their average production in Years 3-4:
- Brandon Marshall: 79.5 yards, 11.6 yards/catch, 60.8% catch rate, 0.53 TDs
- Antonio Brown: 78.8 yards, 13.0 yards/catch, 64.7% catch rate, 0.45 TDs
- DeAndre Hopkins: 77.3 yards, 13.1 yards/catch, 55.1% catch rate, 0.47 TDs
- Brandon Aiyuk: 71.4 yards, 15.4 yards/catch, 69.9% catch rate, 0.45 TDs
Aiyuk’s on an upward trajectory and is slated to hit NFL free agency in 2025. If he remains in San Francisco, we know what he can do for fantasy football. But if he lands elsewhere next offseason, we could see him ascend to a whole other level.
KEEP READING: WR Dynasty Rankings
For a talent like this, there is no real “worst-case scenario,” and those are the types of assets you want to load your roster with whenever given the opportunity.
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