3 key lessons from SF 49ers loss to Washington in Week 14

Brandon Aiyuk needs to command the SF 49ers target share

Following his second career game, an exceptional performance against a then-struggling NY Giants passing attack, I asked if wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was better than Deebo Samuel.

Most certainly a hot take coming off a rookie’s second game ever, and in answering it, I wrote:

"While Aiyuk probably slots in as definitely a starting-caliber receiver as of now, and a player who should receive a featured role, he is only a rookie. Shanahan said after the game said Aiyuk had some “struggles” in the first half and that he needed to get more aggressive."

Well, fast forward 11 weeks, and Aiyuk has gotten more aggressive, he’s developed rapidly, and though there is a bit of recency bias at play, I’d say that he’s firmly the WR1 for the SF 49ers, tight end George Kittle notwithstanding.

And as such, Aiyuk needs to command a sizeable target share, even in future years.

Since Week 7 against the New England Patriots, Aiyuk has amassed at least five receptions and 75 yards in every game he has played. He’s the purest route runner on the team, and he simply glides. A perfect compliment to what Deebo and Kittle offer, with the capacity to explode this offense when fully healthy.

Against a Washington defense that has been very good both against the run and the pass, Aiyuk caught 10 receptions for 119 yards. He received a whopping 16 targets, and though the Niners won’t be able to give him that many when Kittle and Deebo are both fully healthy, he should still comfortably be receiving double-digit targets every game.

The SF 49ers have had a rather egalitarian approach to targets and spotlighting for players not named Kittle.

But with a player like Aiyuk, that plan needs to change. When you have a star receiver, you give them the rock. Enough said.