Who Should I Start? Brandon Aiyuk or Tetairoa McMillan

Tuesday, October 14, 3:21 PM

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Monday that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) is getting "closer and closer" to returning to practice following his ACL and MCL tears in his right knee in Week 7 of last year. While the Niners aren't giving any specific date for a potential return to the practice field for Aiyuk, Shanahan mentioned Week 10 as a rough estimate, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Despite the Niners also dealing with injuries to receivers Jauan Jennings (ribs) and Ricky Pearsall and tight end George Kittle (hamstring), Aiyuk isn't going to be rushed back. And even if Aiyuk does return to practice ahead of the team's Week 10 game against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, it doesn't mean the former first-rounder would be active for his season debut that week. Once Aiyuk's practice window is open, the 49ers will have 21 days to officially activate him from the Physically Unable to Perform list. Fantasy managers who are stashing Aiyuk must remain patient.

Sunday, October 12, 11:12 PM

Ironically, Carolina Panthers rookie first-round wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan had a season-low 29 receiving yards on just three receptions in the 30-27 win over the visiting Dallas Cowboys in Week 6 on Sunday, but he made up for it by finding paydirt for the first two times in his NFL career. McMillan was targeted five times by quarterback Bryce Young, which tied for the team lead with running back Rico Dowdle. The 22-year-old from Arizona scored from 19 and two yards out, respectively, to salvage his fantasy day. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too concerned with his low-yardage output against Dallas, as it's been clear that McMillan will lead the Panthers in yards, catches, and targets when all is said and done in 2025, as long as he stays healthy. He has a tough matchup upcoming against cornerback Sauce Gardner and the New York Jets in Week 7, but McMillan needs to remain in all starting fantasy lineups.