What have we learned thus far in Week 14? FOX Sports’ staff of NFL writers joined forces to deliver insight and analysis from around the league.
In this weekly story, we’ll tell you what we noticed, what we heard and what to keep an eye on next.
1. Underrated 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk deserves his flowers
While the explosive plays created by Deebo Samuel have been an understandable talking point nationally for the San Francisco 49ers this week, the team’s other top receiver reached a milestone during a 28-16 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Brandon Aiyuk finished with six receptions for 126 yards on nine targets. Aiyuk now has a career-high 1,053 receiving yards on 56 receptions and six touchdowns, eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards for a second straight season.
Aiyuk became the fifth player in San Francisco’s storied franchise history to accomplish that feat, joining Jerry Rice (1986-96), Terrell Owens (2000-2003), Anquan Boldin (2013-2014) and fellow teammate George Kittle (2018-19).
“He’s one of our leaders in there,” San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said about Aiyuk. “He’s come a long way. He gets so amped up for the games. Sometimes he won’t get a ball for a little bit, and then he gets it late. And sometimes it happens early, but with BA (Aiyuk) it really doesn’t matter this year with him. He plays the same way, down in and down out and it carries over to the run game and pass game.
“With the type of football player he is and how talented he is, you always felt it was matter of type before he gets his thousand (yards). He deserves it and he’s been great for us.”
The 25-year-old former first-round pick out of Arizona State is heading into the final year of his rookie contract. He will make $14.1 million on his fifth-year option, which the 49ers picked up earlier this year. Samuel is set to make $20.1 million in 2024 as one of the top receivers in the NFL.
The 49ers already re-signed George Kittle, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa and Samuel to new deals. Aiyuk…
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Publish date : 2023-12-11 19:38:19
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