Who Should I Start? Brandon Aiyuk or Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

Wednesday, January 21, 3:30 PM

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said on Wednesday that "it's safe to say" that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee), who missed the entire 2025 season, has "played his last snap as a Niner," according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. The 27-year-old has been trying to get the 49ers to release him for a while, and it was essentially a done deal when the team voided guarantees in his contract. An official transaction releasing Aiyuk will probably come in the weeks following the Super Bowl. The former 25th overall pick in 2020 out of Arizona State had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023 before signing an extension with the team before the 2024 campaign. Aiyuk wasn't living up to expectations that year before tearing his ACL and MCL in Week 7. In addition to concerns about whether he can return to his pre-injury form, Aiyuk's fantasy value going forward will depend largely on where he ends up.

Sunday, December 21, 12:26 PM

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine will be a healthy inactive for Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Westbrook-Ikhine has played in all 14 games for Miami so far this season, totalling 11 catches for 89 yards on 20 targets, but won't play in Week 16 due to a coach's decision. The 28-year-old wideout hasn't recorded a catch in four straight weeks and has only seen one target over this stretch. With Westbrook-Ikhine out, Malik Washington, Dee Eskridge, and Cedrick Wilson Jr. will be in the mix for more snaps and targets behind Jaylen Waddle in Week 16.