Brandon Aiyuk can finally deliver 49ers a breakout season in 2022
By Peter Panacy
Why Brandon Aiyuk regresses with 49ers in 2022
With two years in the books now, Brandon Aiyuk has appeared to be a good receiver with the capability of making any play from any spot on the field, especially when he’s lined up against man coverage.
However, 2021 was supposed to be that breakout year. And while injuries played a minor role in him getting off to a slow start, it was Deebo Samuel who flat-out stole the show last season.
Assuming Samuel comes back, it’s likely the Niners will want to make him happy and reward him with as many touches as possible, which could be compounded by the likelihood of George Kittle needing to revert back into being another San Francisco alpha pass-catcher this season.
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If both cases prove to be true, plus with the uncertainty about whether or not Trey Lance is going to be fully effective as a legitimate passer in a starter’s role, there are only going to be so many high-profile touches to go around, and Aiyuk already seems slated for tertiary roles behind Samuel and Kittle.
Plus, if a rookie like Danny Gray and his 4.33 40-yard speed wind up making a bigger impact than expected, even more looks will go in other directions than Aiyuk.
It might not lead to a massive regression, at least numbers-wise. But there’s equally as good a chance Aiyuk merely replicates the kind of stats seen over the last two years.