The dam hasn’t fairly burst, however the Brandon Aiyuk breakout is undoubtedly taking place. After an up-and-down begin to the 2022 marketing campaign, Aiyuk has emerged during the last 4 video games as a go-to possibility and a respectable No. 1 receiver for 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
This isn’t to remove from any of the opposite weapons on San Francisco’s offense. They’re loaded even with out Aiyuk’s breakout stretch, which can be why the success has been comparatively muted. There additionally hasn’t been one monster sport the place the 2020 first-round choose publicizes his presence with authority.
As a substitute of a tsunami, it’s been a gentle collection of waves the place Aiyuk has hauled in a minimum of six catches for a minimum of 80 yards. It started towards Atlanta in Week 6 when he posted eight catches for 83 yards and two touchdowns. He backed that up with seven catches for 82 yards towards Kansas Metropolis, and 81 yards with a landing on six receptions vs. the Rams earlier than the Bye. Per week off didn’t sluggish Aiyuk down although, and he hauled in six extra balls for 84 yards Sunday evening towards the Chargers.
In all, Aiyuk’s final 4 video games have seen him earn 35 targets that he become 27 catches, 330 yards and three touchdowns. Extrapolated over a full season, these numbers add as much as 115 receptions for 1,402 yards and 13 touchdowns. He additionally has the No. 10 general receiving grade on Professional Soccer Focus, he’s tied for 14th in yards per route run, and tied for thirteenth in YAC per reception.
For San Francisco he’s main the membership in targets, receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. He’s two yards behind WR Deebo Samuel for the staff lead in scrimmage yards, and the one participant averaging extra yards per contact is WR Ray-Ray McCloud who has 162 yards on 10 catches.
If Aiyuk’s not a star but, he’s ascending towards that realm.
It might be argued that this breakout occurred final season following the bizarre begin to the yr the place Aiyuk was in some type of head coach Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse. He was good within the second half of the yr, and in his final 17 video games relationship again to Week 11 of the 2021 marketing campaign, Aiyuk has 78 catches for 1,137 yards and eight touchdowns.
The ceiling for the 49ers’ offense entails Aiyuk enjoying on the stage he’s performed over the course of the final month. With WR Deebo Samuel working in as a ball service and lining up within the backfield, it’s crucial for San Francisco to have a big-play risk on the skin. As defenses focus in on Samuel and TE George Kittle, Aiyuk has gotten extra appears. He’s turned them into elite manufacturing during the last 4 video games. If he retains it up, he ought to end the yr as the highest go catcher in an especially dynamic 49ers offense.