Who Should I Start? DeAndre Hopkins or Brandon Aiyuk

Saturday, October 11, 10:44 AM

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was looking like a sleeper pick in deeper leagues when Lamar Jackson (hamstring) found him for some big plays the first couple of weeks. Since then, however, Hopkins has had a combined three receptions for 59 yards in three games and hasn't had a finish better than WR54. Then, we throw Cooper Rush and a defensive unit like the Los Angeles Rams into the mix, and everything gets a lot more bleak. In half-PPR formats, Hopkins is projected as the WR77, so fantasy managers will want to look elsewhere for an option with a higher ceiling in Week 6.

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.