Aiyuk remains with the 49ers at the time of writing, but he's expected to join another team for the 2026 campaign. We'll continue to monitor what develops, and hopefully, Aiyuk can re-emerge as a quality Fantasy contributor once again. He did not play in 2025 after suffering a torn ACL in 2024. Aiyuk has shown the ability to produce at a high level, and he averaged at least 13.4 PPR points per game in three of the first four seasons of his career. We'll see where he ends up, and hopefully, he'll get consistent targets. He's only 28, and if he's healthy, Aiyuk can still be a Fantasy starter in the majority of leagues. For now, draft Aiyuk with a late-round pick in all formats, and he will likely be a mid-round pick at best, depending on where he plays this year.
Fantasy Stats
receiving
rushing
fantasy
Year
rec
Receptions
yds
Receiving Yards
avg
Average Yards per Reception
td
Receiving Touchdowns
yds
Rushing Yards
avg
Average Yards per Rush
fpts
Fantasy Points
fpts/g
Fantasy Points per Game
2026
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
2025
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
2024
25
374
14.96
—
—
0.00
33
4.7
3y Avg.
33
572
17.33
2
—
0.00
62
7.8
Fantasy News
49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Issued arrest warrant for speeding
Rotowire
Aiyuk (knee) has been issued an arrest warrant on a misdemeanor charge of exhibition of speed by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.
Aiyuk's warrant relates to a December video posted of himself driving nearby the 49ers' stadium. San Francisco GM John Lynch said back in January that Aiyuk will not play for the team again, while head coach Kyle Shanahan said in late March during the NFL owners' meeting that the team is in "no rush" to release the wideout and would prefer to receive some form of compensation via a trade. The 49ers inked veteran wideouts Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in free agency to join third-year pro Ricky Pearsall, as well as selecting rookie De'Zhaun Stribling in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft at No. 33 overall. Aiyuk did not play in 2025 while rehabbing from ACL and MCL tears in his right knee that he sustained during the 2024 campaign, and he was placed on the reserve/left squad list last December.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Still likely to be released
Rotowire
The 49ers are still expected to move on from Aiyuk (knee) but won't necessarily release him Wednesday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
With the 2026 league year kicking off Wednesday afternoon, San Francisco can now release Aiyuk with a post-June 1 designation that spreads some of the dead-cap charge to 2027. Multiple reporters, including Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com, have suggested that Aiyuk is likely to end up in Washington, where he'd reunite with close friend and former college teammate Jayden Daniels.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Won't play for Niners again
Rotowire
San Francisco GM John Lynch said Wednesday that Aiyuk (knee) won't play for the 49ers again, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Reports in November suggested Aiyuk was angling for his release after the 49ers voided guarantees in his contract. He'll likely get his wish in the coming weeks, with Lynch now confirming that Aiyuk won't be welcomed back to the team.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Not ruled out from playing in 2025
Rotowire
San Francisco general manager John Lynch reiterated Tuesday that he's still "hopeful" Aiyuk (knee) will play at some point this season, though he acknowledged that he wasn't sure how realistic the wideout's return might be, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Lynch noted that Aiyuk is continuing to take part in rehab work for the surgery he underwent last October to address ACL and MCL tears in his right knee, but the 49ers have thus far declined to put out a target date for when the 27-year-old might be ready to practice. As David Lombardi of SFStandard.com suggests, the decision as to whether Aiyuk suits up in 2025 likely falls on the wideout's shoulders. While the 49ers would seemingly welcome him back if he's healthy enough to play, Aiyuk may not be as motivated to suit up after San Francisco voided approximately $26 million on his contract back in late July. Aiyuk is still on San Francisco's books through 2028, though the team will likely look to trade him this offseason if a suitor is willing to pick up most of his remaining salary. Releasing Aiyuk is another possibility, but the 49ers would incur a dead-cap charge of $29.585 million if he's cut outright without a post-June 1 designation.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Not practicing this week
Rotowire
Aiyuk (knee) won't return to practice this week, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Aiyuk reportedly wants to sit out the rest of the season and then angle for his release rather than playing for the 49ers after they voided guarantees in his four-year extension. The team, meanwhile, is hoping to get Aiyuk back on the field at some point this season, though it presumably wouldn't be until late December or January. It's unclear if Aiyuk would be considered ready for practice if not for his displeasure with the 49ers.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Future with franchise uncertain
Rotowire
Aiyuk (knee) is considered unlikely to play for the 49ers again after the team voided guarantees in his contract for 2026, Dianna Russini and Michael Silver of The Athletic report.
The 49ers reportedly voided the guarantees in response to Aiyuk missing meetings and declining to participate in other team activities the past couple months while he finished up his rehab from the ACL and MCL tears he sustained last October. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Nov. 10 that he was "pretty confident" Aiyuk would play at some point this season, but the wideout seemingly doesn't want to play for San Francisco at all. With the trade deadline having come and gone, Aiyuk may have to miss the entire season even if he's physically ready to play soon. He's in the first season of a four-year, $130 million extension, but the report suggests Aiyuk will angle for his release this offseason, rather than filing a grievance or agreeing to play on a non-guaranteed salary. He'll turn 28 in March and shouldn't lack for free-agent suitors if it comes to that.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Out for Week 12, still week-to-week
Rotowire
Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Aiyuk's (knee) 21-day practice window will not be opened this week, and he remains week-to-week, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Aiyuk will not play in next Monday night's Week 12 game against the Panthers, and he doesn't appear to be particularly close to a return to game action. The 49ers have a Week 14 bye, so perhaps Aiyuk will be able to practice at some point before that and potentially play prior to the end of the regular season. For now, the Niners will continue to roll with Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne as their three main wideouts.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Unlikely to practice this week
Rotowire
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that the 49ers don't intend to open Aiyuk's (knee) practice window this week, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Aiyuk remains in the rehab stages of the torn ACL and MCL that he suffered in his right knee Week 7 of last season. Shanahan told David Lombardi of SFStandard.com last Wednesday that he's "pretty confident" Aiyuk will play at some point this season, but it's unlikely to happen this coming Sunday and probably for at least a few more weeks after that point.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Expected to play this year, eventually
Rotowire
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that he's "pretty confident" Aiyuk (knee) will play at some point this season, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.
That's probably not what fantasy managers want to hear, though it was already made clear Monday that Aiyuk isn't exactly close to a return. He's still on injured reserve with no designation to return to practice this week, and then he's presumably looking at a multi-week ramp-up whenever he does begin practicing. A game appearance before December would be surprising.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Unlikely to have practice window opened this week
Rotowire
Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that the 49ers don't intend to designate Aiyuk (knee) to return from the reserve/PUP list Wednesday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
On Friday, Shanahan told David Lombardi of SFStandard.com that Aiyuk's 21-day practice window may open this week, but even if it doesn't, the 49ers currently are in "week-to-week mode" with the wide receiver. Aiyuk is a little over one year removed from suffering ACL and MCL tears in his right knee during Week 7 of the 2024 campaign, so he's likely facing a significant ramp-up process even when he is cleared to practice.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: May have practice window opened soon
Rotowire
Coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday that the 49ers may designate Aiyuk (knee) to return from the reserve/PUP list next week, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.
Aiyuk is a shade more than one year removed from tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee Week 7 of last season. Once the 49ers make the aforementioned transaction, be it next week or beyond that point, the team will have a 21-day window in which to evaluate Aiyuk in practice to determine his return to action. Shanahan added that San Francisco currently is in "week-to-week mode" with Aiyuk, meaning he may need a few weeks to get up to speed before gaining clearance to play.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Not close to returning from PUP
Rotowire
49ers GM John Lynch said Thursday that Aiyuk (knee, PUP) is "not close" to returning, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.
Lombardi believes a Week 6 return is not realistic for Aiyuk, as the wide receiver is still working to hit various markers in his recovery. Coach Kyle Shanahan said back in August that Week 6 was a reasonable target for Aiyuk's return to game action, but that is looking increasingly unlikely at this point. The 49ers will continue to work through injuries at the position, but Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle) appear poised to lead this wideout room for the foreseeable future.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Shifts to reserve/PUP list
Rotowire
The 49ers moved Aiyuk (knee) to the reserve/PUP list Tuesday.
This is merely a procedural move, as coach Kyle Shanahan has circled (in his mind) a Week 6 road matchup with the Buccaneers as a possible date for Aiyuk to make his 2025 debut, per Vic Tafur of The Athletic. With this move from active/PUP to reserve/PUP, though, Aiyuk technically can return to action as early as Thursday, Oct. 2 at the Rams. He remains in recovery mode from the ACL and MCL tears that he sustained in his right knee Week 7 of last season. With Demarcus Robinson suspended for the first three games of the season, Jauan Jennings (calf) and Ricky Pearsall are the top wide receivers on San Francisco's active roster.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Could be ready for Week 6
Rotowire
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Week 6 could be a realistic target for Aiyuk (ACL) to take the field, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.
Shanahan preempted the estimate by saying he hadn't given the date much thought, but Week 6 nonetheless seems like a fairly realistic target for Aiyuk, who is recovering from right knee surgery that he underwent last November to address ACL and MCL tears, to make his 2025 debut. In that scenario, Aiyuk would figure to begin the season on the reserve/PUP list, then begin ramping his activity level up before hopefully taking the field Sunday, Oct. 12 on the road against Tampa Bay. Even then, it's conceivable Aiyuk could get off to a slow start and ramp his way up to a full starting share of snaps, meaning it would incentivize fantasy managers to plan ahead and roster alternative options at WR. With Jauan Jennings (calf) and Jacob Cowing (hamstring) still not practicing, and Jordan Watkins (ankle) out about a month, Ricky Pearsall and Demarcus Robinson currently are operating as the 49ers' clear top two wide receivers.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Moved to active/PUP list Friday
Rotowire
Aiyuk (knee) was placed on the active/PUP list by the 49ers on Friday.
Aiyuk is eligible to practice while on the active/PUP list, though he isn't expected to be available for training camp as he recovers from a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee sustained in October. Fellow wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (hamstring) was also placed on the active/PUP list Friday, though he's expected to have a much more optimistic recovery timeline than Aiyuk. With Jauan Jennings (calf) unhappy with his contract, there will be more opportunities for Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins during training camp.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Coaching up teammates at minicamp
Rotowire
Aiyuk (knee) is present at San Francisco's mandatory minicamp but is not practicing, though he contributed Tuesday by coaching up the team's younger receivers, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Aiyuk's recovery remains on track, but given the severity of the injury he's working back from, he's not considered a candidate to be ready for the start of training camp in late July. The 49ers haven't yet offered a tangible timetable for Aiyuk's expected return, but he's remaining involved at team activities despite not being ready to handle on-field work. While it's still possible Aiyuk is ready for the start of the regular season after tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee last October, it's not a guarantee he'll be back to 100 percent form at any point in 2025. Even considering his deflated ADP in 2025 fantasy drafts, Aiyuk has to be considered a high-risk, high-upside selection. As he heads into the second season of the four-year, $120 million extension he inked with the 49ers last offseason, though, Aiyuk remains positioned to lead San Francisco's wide receiver corps when fully healthy.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Progressing with injury recovery
Rotowire
GM John Lynch relayed Monday that Aiyuk, who tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee in October, met with Dr. Neal ElAttrache last week and got "good reviews" in terms of the progress he's made in his recovery, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
That said, there is still no concrete timetable for Aiyuk's return to action. Either way, Lynch noted that despite recent trade speculation, he expects the 2020 first-rounder -- who the 49ers signed to a four-year, $120 million extension last August -- to remain with the team this coming season. Due a $22.85 million bonus Tuesday, Aiyuk recorded 25 catches (on 47 targets) for 374 yards in seven games prior to his injury, and, once he's fully healthy, he'll be in line to headline a San Francisco WR corps that no longer includes Deebo Samuel. For now, the top available options behind Aiyuk are Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall and Demarcus Robinson.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Undergoes knee surgery
Rotowire
Aiyuk had surgery to repair the ACL and other damage in is right knee earlier this week, David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard reports.
Aiyuk sustained at least ACL and MCL tears in that knee during a Week 7 loss to the Chiefs, so Lombardi's report indicates other areas may have been impacted in the hit that he took just before halftime in that game. Medical science has reached a point that Aiyuk could make enough progress in his recovery to be ready for Week 1 of the 2025 season, but additional damage to his right knee on top of what is known may delay his next game action. With Aiyuk out for the season, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall will be the primary wide receivers for QB Brock Purdy the rest of the way.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Moves on IR
Rotowire
The 49ers placed Aiyuk (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday.
Aiyuk has a long rehab path ahead of him after suffering ACL and MCL tears in his right knee during Sunday's loss to the Chiefs. The 49ers are left with Deebo Samuel (illness) and Jauan Jennings (hip) as their top veteran wide receivers for the rest of the season, and it's unclear if either will be available this Sunday against the Cowboys. Rookies Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing and second-year pro Ronnie Bell are all candidates for significant playing time in the near future, especially if veteran backup Chris Conley (ankle) also is unable to play.
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49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Torn ACL, MCL confirmed
Rotowire
Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Monday that Aiyuk sustained tears to the ACL and MCL in his right knee during Sunday's loss to the Chiefs, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Aiyuk will undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the season, ending it with 25 catches (on 47 targets) for 374 yards and no touchdowns in seven games. With Deebo Samuel suffering from pneumonia, Jauan Jennings dealing with a hip issue and Chris Conley tending to a sprained ankle, the 49ers' current healthy wide receivers on the active roster are Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing and Ronnie Bell.
