When people talk about the best wide receiver duos in the NFL, one tandem that doesn’t get mentioned much is Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers.
It doesn’t matter that Aiyuk broke the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the first time last season and appears to be on an upward trajectory, or that Samuel collected 1,405 receiving yards the year prior.
Aiyuk told Richard Sherman that although he doesn’t like the fact that he and Samuel aren’t often mentioned as one of the best wideout duos, he’s using the snub as motivation, via The Volume.
“It’s a little frustrating”
—@THE2ERA speaks with @RSherman_25 about not being mentioned with @19problemz in best WR duo conversations pic.twitter.com/WkEzJOdT2x
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) July 25, 2023
Aiyuk was the No. 25 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and he started to show signs that he had star potential as a rookie when he put up 748 yards and five touchdowns.
In 2022, he hauled in eight touchdown passes and started to develop some nice chemistry with new starting quarterback Brock Purdy.
In a thrilling Week 16 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, he totaled 101 receiving yards and made multiple catches down the stretch as the 49ers forced overtime and emerged victorious.
Some believe Aiyuk is bound for a huge 2023 campaign as the team hopes to finally win its sixth Super Bowl and its first since the 1994 season.
Yet as skilled as he and Samuel may be, the Niners’ championship hopes will likely hinge on their quarterback situation.
Purdy is recovering from a torn UCL in his throwing elbow, yet he was a rookie last season after being the last player chosen in the draft, and there is always a chance he isn’t quite as good a player as he looked late last season.
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