Who Should I Start? Brandon Aiyuk or Emeka Egbuka

Thursday, August 7, 12:05 PM

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said that he "doesn't think" wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) will be cleared for Week 1, although there's still no official timetable set for his return after he tore both his ACL and MCL last year. Aiyuk has been on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list since the start of training camp, and if he remains there for the start of the regular season, he'll be forced to miss at least the first four weeks of the season. The 27-year-old had surgery on his right knee in mid-November of last year and has yet to practice at all. With Aiyuk potentially missing at least the first four weeks of 2025, he's dropped to No. 57 in RotoBaller's receiver rankings. The former first-rounder signed a big extension with San Fran before last season and then had only 25 catches for 374 yards and no touchdowns in seven games before his season-ending injury.

Wednesday, August 6, 7:12 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has been a standout performer in training camp practices, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. Laine writes that Egbuka has "stepped into Chris Godwin's role as (Tampa Bay's) big slot receiver." With Godwin (ankle) potentially sidelined to start the regular season while he recovers from ankle surgery, Egbuka could be in line for significant playing time immediately. In his final collegiate season at Ohio State in 2024, Egbuka caught 81 passes for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games. The 22-year-old profiles as a fringe WR3/flex option with significant upside, particularly if Godwin struggles to return to full health in 2025.