How to handle Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk injuries in Week 1 fantasy football

UPDATE: The 49ers have placed Deebo Samuel on injured reserve, and he will remain there for at least the first three weeks of the season. The team promoted two players from the practice squad over the weekend, but neither was a wide receiver. That indicates Aiyuk is likely to play. He is not someone to start right away, but he should be on your radar as a potential season-long breakout candidate.

The San Francisco 49ers might be a bit thin at the wide receiver position this weekend with Deebo Samuel out with a foot injury, and Brandon Aiyuk was listed as questionable with a hamstring injury on the team’s Friday injury report. Aiyuk did not practice Wednesday but was a limited participant on Thursday and Friday.

Aiyuk comes in as a rookie out of Arizona State, and he should get every chance to be one of the top receivers in the coming years. He was a high draft pick in a wide receiver-heavy draft, coming in at No. 25 by the 49ers. Aiyuk might be thrown into the fire right away in his NFL debut with Samuel being ruled out. Samuel led all San Francisco wide receivers with 57 catches for 802 yards and three touchdowns.

Fantasy impact: With Samuel sitting out, none of San Francisco’s wide receivers are worthy of fantasy consideration in the opening week of the 2020 NFL season. Watch for injury updates throughout next week to see if he can return in Week 2 and give Aiyuk a look to see what he can do as potentially the go-to wide receiver in his first ever game if he suits up.