Who Should I Start? Brandon Aiyuk or Quentin Johnston


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
6.9 0.2 0.0 2.5 32.2 0.2

Brandon Aiyuk News

Nothing has Changed with Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers

Monday, August 31, 3:40 PM

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch confirmed on Monday that nothing has changed with the situation regarding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee), who remains on the left-squad list after roster cutdown day on Sunday, according to Matt Lively of CBS Sports. The 28-year-old former first-rounder has been off the team's roster since the start of training camp at the end of July. A season-ending knee injury in 2024 and off-the-field issues have forced the Niners to move on from Aiyuk, who went on a social-media rant against the organization this offseason, in turn scaring away potential suitors if/when the 49ers ever outright release him. The 49ers signed Aiyuk to a four-year, $120 million contract in August of 2024 before he proceeded to catch just 25 passes for 374 yards and zero touchdowns before tearing his ACL and MCL in his right knee in Week 7. Aiyuk did not play at all in 2025, and the chances of him re-emerging as a fantasy football asset in 2026 are drying up with each passing day. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues should not be drafting Aiyuk.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
9.7 0.6 0.0 3.1 45.4 0.3

Quentin Johnston News

Quentin Johnston Shows Off Boom Potential with Long Touchdown

Friday, August 28, 5:38 AM

With the Los Angeles Chargers' offensive starters playing two series against the Rams' defensive reserves in Thursday night's cross-town preseason finale, fourth-year wide receiver Quentin Johnston helped quarterback Justin Herbert atone for an opening drive fumble by splitting two defenders for a 65-yard touchdown to give the Bolts an early 7-3 lead. A first-round pick in 2023, Johnston struggled with drops early in his career, but has flashed moments of underrated excellence over the past two seasons, particularly during a four-week stretch that saw him open 2025 as the fantasy WR4. While volume and consistency concerns still exist in what is expected to be a run-first Mike McDaniel offense, Johnston should be schemed into space and put in a position to make use of his run-after-catch abilities, and Thursday night's deep touchdown served as a reminder of his big-play potential. As RotoBaller's WR38, Johnston can still be viewed through a boom-or-bust lens in 2026, but all signs point to the booms being more explosive with the busts less detrimental.


Brandon Aiyuk vs. Quentin Johnston

Still trying to decide between Aiyuk and Johnston? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Brandon Aiyuk is projected to score 6.9 points this week while Quentin Johnston is projected to score 9.7 points.