5 bold predictions for 49ers offense in 2020
By Peter Panacy
No. 5: Brandon Aiyuk Is First 49ers Rookie to Reach 1,000 Receiving Yards
We said bold here. Not easily obtainable.
But the idea of Brandon Aiyuk hitting that 1,000-yard plateau in his first full season at the NFL level wouldn’t be too crazy of an idea, right?
Perhaps, considering no 49ers rookie wide receiver has ever hit that point. Hall of Famer Terrell Owens didn’t back in 1996. The franchise’s best player ever, Jerry Rice, came close in 1985 with 927 yards, while Deebo Samuel gets an honorable nod for his 802 pass-catching yards last year.
It’s not out of the question to see a rookie receiver do this, however. Last year, the Tennessee Titans’ A.J. Brown reached this feat, while the New Orleans Saints’ Michael Thomas did so back in 2016.
Let’s predict Aiyuk is the next in line.
Much of this is predicated on Samuel potentially missing the first couple of weeks in 2020 with a foot injury, giving Aiyuk much more attention and targets. Once Samuel comes back, and when the Niners hit the more difficult portions of their schedule, Aiyuk will be the beneficiary of opponents’ top cornerbacks lining up opposite Samuel.
And if Aiyuk can capitalize on the excellent yards-after-the-catch ability he displayed at Arizona State in 2019, it wouldn’t be a complete shocker to see him thrive in Kyle Shanahan’s innovative offense designed for chunk plays from his pass catchers.
To the tune of 1,000-plus yards.