Who Should I Start? Brandon Aiyuk or Quentin Johnston

Tuesday, August 26, 5:06 PM

The San Francisco 49ers officially placed wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list to begin the 2025 season, which means he will miss at least the first four contests. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has already said that Aiyuk might be targeting a return around Week 6 on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 27-year-old suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7 of last season, which is why he's not ready for the start of 2025. The former first-round wideout had been a major disappointment in fantasy before his season-ending knee injury, too, as he caught just 25 of 47 targets for 374 yards and didn't find the end zone once in seven games. It's understandable for fantasy managers to want to avoid him altogether this year, although he's still worth drafting in leagues with IR spots. With Aiyuk sidelined, Jauan Jennings (calf) and Ricky Pearsall should serve as the top wideouts in San Fran.

Wednesday, September 10, 11:36 AM

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston was one of the surprise stars of Week 1, recording five catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns in his team's victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. The 24-year-old will now look to build on the momentum from that performance in Week 2 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Johnston finished third on the Chargers in targets in Week 1 behind fellow wideouts Ladd McConkey and Keenan Allen, which is a trend that figures to continue going forward as long as all three are healthy. The Raiders' defense forced its Week 1 opponent, the New England Patriots, into a pass-heavy game script with Pats quarterback Drake Maye attempting 46 passes. The Chargers should have more success on the ground, but a pass-heavy approach would significantly improve Johnston's chances for fantasy success. He profiles as a low-end WR4/flex option in Week 2.