NFL training camps are set to begin next week and the preseason hype machine is starting to heat up.
ESPN recently published Top 10 receiver rankings and 49ers wideouts Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk were noticeably absent.
On the latest episode of the 49ers Web Zone “No Huddle” podcast, hosts Al Sacco and Brian Renick discussed Deebo’s omission and Aiyuk not receiving any votes.
“By his own admission he did not have a good season,” Sacco said. “And he was banged-up. When he was on the field, he really only had one or two games where he looked the way he did (in 2021). Brandon Aiyuk is an ascending player and he had 1,000 yards last year. Looking at some of the guys who were on there and got votes, I was surprised he didn’t get one vote.”
Likewise, Renick thinks Aiyuk should be recognized more after leading the 49ers with 78 catches, 1,015 yards and eight receiving touchdowns.
“I genuinely believe that the 49ers have two top 25 wide receivers on this roster, which is pretty impressive to be perfectly honest, considering there are 32 teams in the NFL,” Renick said. “I do think that Aiyuk is criminally underrated and I think it’s because Deebo gets all the attention, especially after his 2021 season. But I don’t think DK Metcalf is a Top 10 wide receiver. I think DK Metcalf is kind of a one-trick pony. Is he good at it? Absolutely. I’m not taking away from him, but there are wide receivers that they ranked lower than him that I would take on my team before DK Metcalf.”
