Who Should I Start? Brandon Aiyuk or Joshua Palmer

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.

Sunday, December 14, 12:01 PM

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle) is officially active for the Week 15 game on Sunday in New England against the division-rival Patriots. With Palmer returning to action, Gabe Davis will be a healthy scratch for Buffalo. The 26-year-old Palmer will return to the WR rotation after missing the team's last two games. He'll provide a deep threat for quarterback Josh Allen, but fantasy managers should be looking elsewhere for a flex play this weekend. Palmer is unlikely to see much playing time behind Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Tyrell Shavers, and Brandin Cooks. Tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox will probably be more involved as well against a very capable Patriots defense. Palmer just hasn't made much noise at all in his first year in Buffalo in 2025, catching 18 of his 29 targets for 272 yards and zero touchdowns.