SF 49ers: 5 biggest unsung heroes in Week 3 win vs. Giants

No. 1: SF 49ers Wide Receiver Brandon Aiyuk

Perhaps Week 3 was a “coming out” party, of sorts, for rookie wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

After he missed Week 1 while recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in training camp, and only modestly gracing the stat sheet in Week 2, Aiyuk turned into a force for San Francisco’s offense, particularly in the second half against the G-Men.

The five-catch, 70-yard performance only tells part of the story. For starters, it’s good to see him develop and create chemistry with Nick Mullens.

But what was even more impressive was Aiyuk’s 19-yard end-around rushing touchdown, his first score at the NFL level:

With the SF 49ers still missing second-year wide receiver Deebo Samuel (foot), who made those end-around rushes notable in 2019, it’s good to see Aiyuk thrive in a similar usage.

Aiyuk finished the game with 101 all-purpose yards, proving to be a massive offensive weapon and helping alleviate some of the woes and concerns Kyle Shanahan would otherwise have at the position.

So, while Mullens’ own efforts shouldn’t be overlooked, he should be thanking Aiyuk a plenty for helping make the signal-caller’s job much easier at MetLife Stadium.