Who Should I Start? Brandon Aiyuk or Skyy Moore

Sunday, November 23, 11:55 AM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) continues to recover from last year's ACL injury, and NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports that Aiyuk is "close to being cleared" for a return. The receiver's 21-day practice window hasn't been opened yet, but the 49ers remain hopeful that he'll get back on the field in the near future. San Francisco's receiving corps could use the help as Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall have been underwhelming, combining for 53 catches, 705 yards, and three touchdowns while managing their respective injuries. Aiyuk could become an instant WR2 or WR3 in fantasy football upon his return, but an exact timetable for his activation remains unclear. This isn't the only news story we've seen about Aiyuk this week, though. A few days ago, Dianna Russini and Michael Silver of The Athletic reported that Aiyuk and the Niners were headed for a "stunning split" after the team voided his 2026 guarantees for a failure to meet contractual obligations, creating a clear path to his release next offseason. While Russini and Silver wrote that Aiyuk has likely played his final game for the 49ers, Garafolo's report seems to clarify that he'll have a good chance to get back on the field in 2025 before the team makes a decision on his future during the offseason.

Tuesday, September 23, 5:10 PM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Skyy Moore saw a spike in Week 3's matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Moore had seen just five offensive snaps through the first two games of the season, but saw his snap share shoot up to 52% in the 49ers' 16-15 win on Sunday. With Jauan Jennings (ankle/shoulder) absent from the game, Kendrick Bourne moved to the outside, opening the door for Moore to operate as the team's slot receiver. The jump in usage didn't equate to much production, however, and he finished the day with one reception for 10 yards. The increased role can't be expected to last. Now that Demarcus Robinson's three-game suspension has been served, Moore will be relegated to return duty in short order. So far in 2025, Moore has handled three kickoffs and eight punts for a combined 151 return yards.