Niner Noise
FanSided

5 best standout studs from 49ers Week 12 win vs. Vikings

By Peter Panacy

Elijah Mitchell #25 of the San Francisco 49ers runs past Anthony Barr #55 of the Minnesota Vikings (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Elijah Mitchell #25 of the San Francisco 49ers runs past Anthony Barr #55 of the Minnesota Vikings (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next
Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Final. 26. 60. 34. 42

The 49ers didn’t necessarily make it easy, but pulling off a 34-26 win over the Vikings in Week 12 provided some clear studs from the game.

The San Francisco 49ers have still been an up-and-down team for much of 2021.

That said, it’s nice to see the Niners face some serious challenges and adversity during their 34-26 Week 12 home win over the Minnesota Vikings after dominating the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars in the previous two weeks.

During San Francisco’s four-game losing streak earlier this season, Week 12 would have likely turned into a game head coach Kyle Shanahan’s team would have lost.

Yes, there are things Shanahan and Co. will need to work on. The 49ers’ special teams unit was abysmal, especially allowing a kickoff return for a touchdown, while the secondary remains questionable, at best, covering top-level wide receivers in a still-dangerous Vikings offense.

That said, Week 12 generated some exceptional Niners standouts, all of whom played vital roles in ensuring a crucial victory to get them to 6-5 and right in the thick of the NFC playoff standings.

49ers Stud No. 5: Wide Receiver Brandon Aiyuk

It truly isn’t that long ago, but it sure feels like forever ago when fans were wondering if second-year wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was going to turn into a flop after such an impressive rookie 2020 campaign.

A week after posting a team-high seven catches for 85 yards, Aiyuk answered again versus Minnesota with three catches for 91 yards, including some much-needed production on a 37-yard catch-and-run grab on a 3rd-and-13 play in the first quarter that led to a San Francisco touchdown.

Fellow wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who recorded that touchdown, has been getting the bulk of the attention this season.

Yet Aiyuk is coming on as of late and in a big way, now leading the 49ers wideouts in receiving yards in back-to-back weeks.

Having both Samuel and Aiyuk play at a high level together is going to be key for the Niners down the stretch.