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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been the talk of the offseason, as he is seeking a new contract and has requested a trade. Following a 1,342-yard season in 2023, he wants to be paid like a top dog, but his situation has remained cloudy as we approach the start of the 2024 regular season.
CeeDee Lamb recently signed an extension, and Ja'Marr Chase returned to practice in Cincinnati. Could those two developments have any effect on Aiyuk's standing? It's possible.
Will Aiyuk play in Week 1, and what is his fantasy football outlook this year? Let's dive in.
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Will Brandon Aiyuk Sign A New Contract?
8/30 UPDATE: Aiyuk signed a four-year contract extension to remain with the 49ers. He should have enough time to get ready for the Week 1 Monday Night Football contest against the New York Jets.
As of Tuesday, August 27, Aiyuk has still not reached a new deal with the 49ers, and there isn't much information on whether there has been any progress in negotiations with the 49ers. The Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly have a deal in place to acquire Aiyuk, but that has seemingly been pending for weeks, and he remains in San Francisco for now.
From @NFLGameDay Kickoff: The #49ers situation with Brandon Aiyuk remains unsettled… still. pic.twitter.com/r7mRLISHK4
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 24, 2024
On Monday, Lamb signed a four-year, $136 million contract extension, placing him just behind Justin Jefferson in average salary among wideouts. He became the sixth wideout this offseason to sign a deal that includes an average salary of at least $28.25 million, and surely, Aiyuk will eventually sign with a team on a contract in that ballpark. When that could happen remains to be seen.
Will Brandon Aiyuk Play In Week 1?
For now, Aiyuk's Week 1 status remains a major mystery. It would be a surprise if he suits up for the Niners without a new deal. If he reaches a new deal with either the 49ers or Steelers before Week 1, he could step on the field right away, but there is a possibility for a slow start, considering all of the practice time and reps he has missed. This is a "wait-and-see" situation.
Brandon Aiyuk 2024 Fantasy Outlook
Aiyuk's Yahoo ADP sits at 29.7, meaning he's usually going off the board in the middle of the third round in 12-team leagues. While he's a risky pick at any draft slot, given his situation, he could prove to be a major value if he's back on the field early in the 2024 campaign.
If he remains a 49er, he should continue to produce spike weeks as a part of one of the league's elite offenses. If he's traded to Pittsburgh, expect a slow start, but neither Russell Wilson nor Justin Fields are shy about ripping the deep ball, so he and George Pickens should see plenty of downfield opportunities.
PURDY TO AIYUK. 76-YARD TOUCHDOWN.
📺: #TBvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/jckqnJwdb2 pic.twitter.com/PQMIcpKyIW— NFL (@NFL) November 19, 2023
Fantasy managers who like to take on risk in exchange for upside could target Aiyuk at his current cost, while "safer" managers can opt to pick Cooper Kupp, Nico Collins, or Deebo Samuel Sr. in his range of the draft.
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