On Monday, San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan provided an update on Brandon Aiyuk’s recovery from his torn ACL and MCL, saying the star wide receiver is on track to return around Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season.
Aiyuk remains on the physically unable to perform list as he continues rehab.
From a fantasy football perspective, this recovery timeline significantly impacts Aiyuk’s value.
In an earlier fantasy outlook from CBS Sports, released before any possible return date for Aiyuk was known, he was already framed as a risky late-round stash, unlikely to be worth an early draft pick due to his extended absence and the 49ers’ cautious approach to his recovery.
CBS Sports noted: “That means all expectations for him are out the window, making him a potentially useless Fantasy pick. If your league has IR spots, you could conceivably draft Aiyuk and put him on IR while waiting to see what becomes of him in 2025, but it could prove to be a total waste.”
With key receivers like Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall expected to fill the gap and Aiyuk’s snap count likely limited upon return, fantasy managers should remain patient and skeptical.
In sum, Brandon Aiyuk remains a high-risk, low-reward option for 2025 fantasy football.
