A shoulder injury resulted in the San Francisco 49ers listing Brandon Aiyuk as a non-participant on Monday. The 25-year-old was the second-ranked fantasy football receiver in Week 1 but was not a top-50 producer this past week. How should managers approach this situation as they prepare for Week 3?
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Latest News Surrounding Brandon Aiyuk
Aiyuk didn’t earn a target for the final 19 minutes of the Week 2 win over the Rams and this shoulder injury may have played a part in that.
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He was dinged up in the first half, and while he gutted his way through the game, he only managed to take the field for 53% of the team’s offensive snaps, paving the way for Deebo Samuel to have a big day (101 yards and a TD on 11 touches).
Will Aiyuk Play This Week?
Aiyuk has officially been ruled OUT for Thursday Night Football.
The fact that the 49ers play the first game of the week is both a blessing and a curse. It obviously gave Aiyuk less time to recover, but it does give fantasy managers the maximum number of replacement options, as you have 30 teams available to you.
Brandon Aiyuk with teaching tape on a slant-and-go.
This is why the ability to open the hips fast and deliver a long break step opens up the route tree for young receivers. #49ers pic.twitter.com/bWCaLvJK1r
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) September 18, 2023
What Does This Mean for the Week 3 Rankings?
Deebo Samuel moves up a touch in the WR2 ranks, but he remains in the same tier he was in prior clarity with the Aiyuk injury. I have him ranked just behind Amari Cooper who is playing against pass funnel this weekend and proved his health on Monday night.
George Kittle shifted up one spot in my TE ranks after this news became official. He has yet to show out, but we know the ceiling that he possesses and with one less mouth to feed, the odds of a big game increase.
If you’re stuck entering the weekend, we will sort through everything you need to be aware of entering Week 3 on the PFN Fantasy YouTube Channel!