Who Should I Start? Brandon Aiyuk or DeMario Douglas

Sunday, November 23, 11:55 AM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) continues to recover from last year's ACL injury, and NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports that Aiyuk is "close to being cleared" for a return. The receiver's 21-day practice window hasn't been opened yet, but the 49ers remain hopeful that he'll get back on the field in the near future. San Francisco's receiving corps could use the help as Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall have been underwhelming, combining for 53 catches, 705 yards, and three touchdowns while managing their respective injuries. Aiyuk could become an instant WR2 or WR3 in fantasy football upon his return, but an exact timetable for his activation remains unclear. This isn't the only news story we've seen about Aiyuk this week, though. A few days ago, Dianna Russini and Michael Silver of The Athletic reported that Aiyuk and the Niners were headed for a "stunning split" after the team voided his 2026 guarantees for a failure to meet contractual obligations, creating a clear path to his release next offseason. While Russini and Silver wrote that Aiyuk has likely played his final game for the 49ers, Garafolo's report seems to clarify that he'll have a good chance to get back on the field in 2025 before the team makes a decision on his future during the offseason.

Wednesday, November 19, 2:53 AM

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas continues to face significant competition within his own position group. Ahead of Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Douglas faces an uphill battle to handle the workload necessary to produce in fantasy football. Douglas has already tied his career-high of three touchdowns this year, but he is behind his 2024 pace in targets, catches, and receiving yards. In fact, he's averaging only 2.1 catches and 30.2 yards per game, and he has surpassed 45 yards in just two different weeks. The 24-year-old has slipped down the pecking order this season after New England brought in Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams. Meanwhile, Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) has taken on a larger role as a playmaker. While Douglas can still hold his own as a receiver, he has failed to separate himself from the rest of his teammates. As a result, he has a lower fantasy ceiling and remains off the radar in leagues with 14 or fewer teams.