Who Should I Start? Brandon Aiyuk or Xavier Hutchinson


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

Brandon Aiyuk Remains Estranged from 49ers

Tuesday, August 25, 1:27 PM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk remains away from the team, and he is not currently part of the team's 90-man roster. The relationship appears to be severed beyond repair. Aiyuk missed the entire 2025 season due to a knee injury and missed ensuing rehab sessions, voiding nearly $30 million in guarantees. The 49ers moved Aiyuk to the reserve/left squad list in December of 2025, and that is where he remains. In January, San Francisco's general manager, John Lynch, said that Aiyuk most likely "played his last snap" for the 49ers. Aiyuk must formally apply for reinstatement to be released or traded, but he has publicly said he won't. In his last taste of NFL action (back in 2024), Aiyuk caught just 25 passes for 374 yards over seven games. Things remain at a standstill, and as a result, Aiyuk has no value in redraft leagues right now. At best, he is a dynasty stash in deeper formats.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
3.1 0.6 0.0 1.1 14.2 0.1

Xavier Hutchinson News

Xavier Hutchinson Rising With More Snaps

Monday, August 24, 8:15 AM

Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson is getting more offensive snaps now that Jayden Higgins (knee) is done for the entire 2026 season due to a torn ACL. Quarterback C.J. Stroud threw a 50-yard bomb to Hutchinson during Monday's training camp practice for a touchdown after he beat cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. In the team's preseason contest on Thursday against the Las Vegas Raiders, Hutchinson caught one of his two targets from Stroud for a loss of one yard. The 26-year-old could see the second-most snaps behind WR1 Nico Collins now that Higgins is out for the year, but second-year wideout Jaylin Noel (hamstring) and Tank Dell (knee) will have something to say about that when it's all said and done. Hutchinson has a real opportunity in 2026, but he doesn't have the pure upside that both Noel and Dell have if they are healthy. The former sixth-rounder in 2023 from Iowa State has 55 catches for 635 yards and three touchdowns (all last year) in his three years in Houston, with his 35-428-3 line in 17 regular-season games being his high-water mark.


Brandon Aiyuk vs. Xavier Hutchinson

Still trying to decide between Aiyuk and Hutchinson? 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 Xavier Hutchinson is projected to score 3.1 points.