Who Should I Start? Brandon Aiyuk or Jameson Williams

Thursday, December 18, 4:18 PM

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) has been "extremely distant" from the team since suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 7 of the 2024 season, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic. The 27-year-old has not played a game since that point. The 49ers voided guarantees in his contract for 2026 and placed him on the reserve/left squad list on Saturday, officially ending his 2025 season. All signs seem to indicate that Aiyuk and the 49ers are likely to go their separate ways this offseason. In his last fully healthy season in 2023, Aiyuk recorded 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns on 105 targets. He has a chance to get back to his superstar heights if he can get fully healthy and find the right team. However, his health and the way his current situation in San Francisco has unfolded may bring about question marks for dynasty league fantasy managers.

Friday, December 19, 11:48 PM

After a slow start to the 2025 season, Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has exploded over the second half of the year. Across his last seven games, the 24-year-old has recorded 647 receiving yards and five touchdown catches. After earning more than seven targets just once over the season's first 12 weeks, he's been targeted by Lions quarterback Jared Goff at least nine times in three straight games. Williams could have a chance to continue his emergence in Week 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who profile as a favorable matchup on paper. Entering the week, Pittsburgh ranks 29th in the NFL in total receiving yards allowed (3,649). With Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (back) on Injured Reserve, Williams has emerged as the team's clear number two option in the passing game alongside wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown. Williams profiles as a low-end fantasy WR1 with high-end upside in Week 16.