In The Blitz, RotoViz writers react to the latest news and help you place it within the context of our 2020 research and recommendations.
Brandon Aiyuk has been one of our bargain buys since the NFL draft. After a surprise selection with the No. 25 overall pick, he looked to be in great shape for early-season volume. Deebo Samuel is out with a foot injury, and although he’s one of the 5 Best Values in Early FFPC Main Events, Samuel will probably miss a couple of weeks.
Unfortunately, Aiyuk is now dealing with an injury of his own. From the RotoViz News feed:
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (hamstring) left this past Sunday’s practice with a hamstring injury and is yet to return to the field. Head coach Kyle Shanahan recently gave an update on the rookie receiver, saying that he is dealing with a mild hamstring strain and that he is week-to-week at this point. There appears to be a decent chance that Aiyuk will be sidelined for the remainder of training camp, putting his status for Week 1 very much in question.
If Aiyuk does miss the rest of training camp, is he suddenly undraftable in normal leagues or does he become even more of a value?
Aiyuk Is An Instant Impact Talent
The 49ers’ first-round pick was a perfect fit for their system. In his post-combine profile, Neil Dutton likened him to Samuel even before the draft.
Aiyuk’s forty-yard dash time at the combine was something of a disappointment, given how fast he seems to look on film. However, a 4.50 time does not exactly make him a plodder. His arm length and hand size certainly stand out, as does his barely credible 80-inch wingspan.
Few receivers can match Aiyuk’s explosiveness, and his eventual first-round selection landed him a group of impressive comps.
Aiyuk’s two-year stint at Arizona State followed junior college, and his unusual path leaves him without particularly close comps. But the names do stand out. Among all WRs this century, Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins rank 23rd and 33rd respectively in fantasy points scored through two seasons. Jeremy Maclin actually ranked 31st before his career took a turn for the worse.
As a result, Aiyuk was “my guy” in the 2020 Dynasty Command Center Rookie Guide.
Among hyped prospects with first-round dreams, Aiyuk was the best receiver in 2019. Of the rest, only CeeDee Lamb hit a 35% receiving share in either yards or TDs. Aiyuk did it in both. The raw totals were also impressive. His 1,192 yards bested both Jerry Jeudy and Tee Higgins in fewer games.
The peripherals are even better. He demonstrated big-play ability with 18 YPR, and ball-in-his-hands dominance with a rushing TD and 14 punt returns for 226 yards and a TD. Extra touches have historically been a very good sign for prospects.
