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Brandon Aiyuk Duds Again

By Jared Smola | Updated on Fri, Oct 11 2024 12:54 PM UTC
Brandon Aiyuk Headshot

49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk caught just two balls for 37 yards in the Week 6 win over the Seahawks. QB Brock Purdy threw it just 28 times in this one, but Aiyuk's four targets were tied with FB Kyle Juszczyk for fourth on the team behind TE George Kittle, WR Deebo Samuel, and WR Jauan Jennings.

2024 Fantasy Football Impact

Aiyuk had the big 147-yard outing vs. the Cardinals in Week 5. Otherwise, he's failed to top 48 yards in any of his other five games.

The playing time has been fine since Week 1: Aiyuk has run a route on 89+% of pass plays in each of the last five games. And the volume has been right in line with last year. Aiyuk is averaging 6.8 targets per game on a 22.2% share after averaging 6.7 targets per game on a 23.6% share last year.

The problem has been efficiency.

2023:

  • 71.4% catch rate
  • 17.9 yards per catch
  • 12.8 yards per target
  • 2.65 yards per route

2024

  • 56.1% catch rate
  • 15.3 yards per catch
  • 8.6 yards per target
  • 1.87 yards per route

Aiyuk's 2024 marks are much closer to his career averages than 2023. So, while we can expect the efficiency to improve a bit, we shouldn't expect it to return to 2023 levels.

Aiyuk will have more big games as a talented receiver in a high-powered offense. But there will be more duds amidst this crowded passing game.

Consider Aiyuk a volatile WR2 moving forward. If you can acquire him for cheaper than that, he's a good buy.

Jared Smola Author Image
Jared Smola, Lead Analyst
Jared has been with Draft Sharks since 2007. He’s now Lead Analyst, heading up the preseason and weekly projections that fuel your Draft War Room and My Team tools. He currently ranks sixth among 158 analysts in draft rankings accuracy.
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