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When should you draft Brandon Aiyuk in 2024 fantasy football drafts? Abby takes a look at the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver's fantasy outlook amid trade rumors.
Brandon Aiyuk's future with the San Francisco 49ers has been the story of this offseason. The 26-year-old wideout will be an unrestricted free agent next year and has been linked to various teams in the past few months.
So far, the 49ers have not made any significant progress in reaching an agreement for a contract extension with Aiyuk. The Arizona State product has also dropped various hints throughout the saga that he would welcome a move away from the team.
As per various reports, the Steelers are still interested in Aiyuk and have been in touch with the 49ers to acquire the receiver via trade. With his future uncertain, what round should you select Aiyuk in fantasy drafts? Let's have a look at his fantasy outlook for the upcoming season.
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Brandon Aiyuk 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook
Aiyuk is coming off the best year of his career. In 16 games last season, he had 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. The 49ers star averaged 17.9 yards per reception and 83.9 receiving yards per game. He also averaged 6.5 targets per game, which shows his importance to the team.
However, if he does leave the 49ers, will it be good or bad for his value in fantasy football? All signs point to him either signing an extension with the 49ers or getting traded to the Steelers.
Brandon Aiyuk wants to be a Pittsburgh Steeler and will not accept any offer from the 49ers
Source: Brandon Aiyuk #CTESPN
CTESPN always has the scoop
— AB (@AB84) August 13, 2024
Well, if he gets traded to Pittsburgh, then he'll be the WR1 ahead of George Pickens and is expected to put up similar numbers as last season. The Steelers will have either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields under center, and although they are not as good as Brock Purdy, history suggests that both of them will feed the ball to their WR1.
Aiyuk is unlikely to miss any significant time this season due to his contract issues, as his future will likely be sorted before Week 1. As a result, managers who were looking to draft him can stick with their decision.
Which Round Should You Draft Brandon Aiyuk in Fantasy Football?
Brandon Aiyuk currently has an average draft position (ADP) of 32. He is currently listed as the consensus WR16 but has the potential to outperform multiple receivers who are ahead of him.
In my opinion, it will be ideal to draft Aiyuk anywhere in the third round of a 12-team league. Anything after that is risky as other players will also target him. Last season, the 49ers star showed that he can be a true WR1, and if he leaves San Francisco, we might see an even better version of him.
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
He scored a total of 174.2 points in standard-scoring leagues last season, averaging 10.9 points per game. Whether Aiyuk stays in San Francisco or not, he will be the go-to guy for his team. Hopefully, the wide receiver's contract situation will be resolved soon.
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