San Francisco 49ers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The San Francisco 49ers have made a renewed effort in recent days to strike a long-term deal with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, according to sources. The situation is fluid and other teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, are still in the mix. But now a return to San Fran appears increasingly possible. Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz writes that Aiyuk had a sit-down meeting with head coach Kyle Shanahan and others in the organization where "some open and candid thoughts were expressed." There is optimism Aiyuk won't be dealt now after it looked like the two sides relationship was fractured beyond repair just a few days ago. The likeliest landing spots for Aiyuk are Pittsburgh and Cleveland, and both locations would most likely be bad news for his fantasy value in 2024. If the 26-year-old former first-rounder stays in the Bay Area, he'll be a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 target in fantasy.

To this point in trade discussions, the San Francisco 49ers have not been satisfied with the Pittsburgh Steelers' offers and would like a receiver in return for Brandon Aiyuk as part of a trade, but they are also open to players at other positions, according to league sources. The New England Patriots dropped out of the Aiyuk sweepstakes the other day, so it's believed that the Steelers and Cleveland Browns are the front-runners for his services. If Aiyuk is dealt before the start of the regular season, his fantasy appeal as a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 is going to drop as he leaves Kyle Shanahan's offense in the Bay Area. And in San Francisco, a departure of Aiyuk would mean that rookie first-rounder Ricky Pearsall would likely start in three-receiver sets immediately alongside Deebo Samuel Sr. and Jauan Jennings.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings signed a two-year, $15.39 million contract extension this offseason to remain with the organization despite a lack of strong production since entering the league as a seventh-round pick in 2020. The Tennessee product has had to compete with Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey for targets and has collected a modest 78 receptions for 963 yards and seven touchdowns through his first 45 regular season games. However, with first-round rookie Ricky Pearsall (shoulder) continuing to battle injuries and star wideout Brandon Aiyuk in the thick of trade rumors, Jennings has had his best camp as a pro, according to team reporter John Chapman. This is a great time to stand out in camp, as Jennings could play a significant pass-catching role if Aiyuk is traded and Pearsall is brought along slowly. Jennings threw for and caught a touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII, so the team likely has plenty of trust in him. While it's too early to say he'll definitely be a contributor, he's worth taking a late-round flier on in deep fantasy leagues and best ball drafts.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, among other NFL teams, are in communication and are still negotiating with the San Francisco 49ers for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. However, no deal is done, according to source. The New England Patriots reportedly dropped out of the Aiyuk sweepstakes on Tuesday night, so it leaves the Steelers and Cleveland Browns as Aiyuk's most likely destination as of right now. It's unclear what Pittsburgh is dangling in a potential trade for Aiyuk, or whether they can actually meet his contract demands. The former first-rounder is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and wants a hefty raise after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Aiyuk would immediately become the Steelers' WR1 if a trade is finalized, although it would be a downgrade fantasy-wise with a move from Brock Purdy to either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields. Stay tuned for more.

After inquiring about San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's availability, the New England Patriots have decided not to explore any further trade possibilities with the 49ers regarding their standout wideout, according to sources. The Patriots are excited about their young receivers, mainly rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, and want to focus on them. The Patriots reportedly had the framework of a deal in place for Aiyuk on Monday night, but they were always considered more of a long shot to land Aiyuk, with the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers also involved. It's good news for fantasy managers looking to score on both Polk and Baker as sleepers. The two rookie wideouts could start right away in three-wide sets alongside Demario Douglas in 2024, depending on the health of Kendrick Bourne (knee), who is coming off a torn ACL.