3 reasons why Brandon Aiyuk is even better for 49ers in 2021

The 49ers have already established Brandon Aiyuk as an up-and-coming star wide receiver, and there’s plenty of hope he improves more in 2021.

Then-San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk flirted with setting a new franchise record in 2020, coming close to breaking Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s mark of 927 receiving yards set back during Rice’s first year in the league in 1985.

Aiyuk fell a little short, amassing 748 yards on 60 receptions plus five touchdowns, also adding another two scores rushing.

But when one factors in Aiyuk did so while appearing in just 12 games, part of the Niners’ lengthy year where injuries were the prime theme, it’s not hard to see how the former ASU standout is destined to become quite the NFL superstar in the not-so-distant future.

Aiyuk’s ceiling has yet to be reached. Amid an unprecedented 2020 campaign, the No. 25 overall pick from last year’s NFL Draft already showed the prowess to be used as a multifaceted weapon in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense. And while the Niners boast another up-and-coming receiver, Deebo Samuel, some would safely argue Aiyuk, not Samuel, is San Francisco’s true WR1 heading into 2021.

There are reasons why fans should expect Aiyuk to be even better this upcoming season, too.

And those reasons aren’t the cliche-type where it’s easy to point out he’s not longer a rookie and now has a full season at the NFL level under his belt. While true, and that will certainly help, some of the other concrete reasons lend credence to 2021 becoming a true breakout campaign from Aiyuk’s vantage point.

Because of these factors, one should look for Aiyuk to emerge as one of the league’s better-known receiving threats.

Here’s why.