The impact of the 2020 NFL Draft on the upcoming fantasy football season
By Kyle Edmond
Sleeper Wide Receiver – Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
You never want to see injuries and the Deebo Samuel injury just recently was a big loss for the 49ers this coming season. After Emmanuel Sanders went to New Orleans, it was apparent that Samuel was going to be a big part of the offense. Now with Samuel hurting his foot, rookie Brandon Aiyuk could very well be the top receiver for the defending NFC Champions.
Aiyuk was already panning out to be a key cog in the San Francisco offense, but with Samuel down for a bit, the role will definitely grow, as will his fantasy football value. Dante Pettis and Kendrick Bourne as well as George Kittle will see a share of Samuel’s targets, but Aiyuk should see the majority.
Given the timetable for Samuel’s return, Aiyuk will be more valuable earlier in the season than the playoff push, but that also makes drafting him that much more important. In redraft and keeper leagues, he could be a candidate to draft and flip mid-season before Samuel returns when his value is the highest.
As for dynasty leagues, Aiyuk has the potential to be a mainstay in the San Francisco offense for years to come opposite Samuel, making him a high value pick moving forward.