Brandon Aiyuk: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Profile
Position: WR
School: Arizona State
Class: Senior
Date of Birth: March 17, 1998
Height: 6-0 Weight: 206lbs
Athletic Testing
40-Time: 4.50
Speed Score: 98.6 (65th-percentile)
Burst Score: 132.0 (92nd-percentile)
Bio
Brandon Aiyuk started his college career at the JUCO level, playing two seasons at Sierra College in California before transferring to Arizona State. He totaled 2,499 all-purpose yards with 21 touchdowns which caught the attention of a number of Division I schools. Most of his offers were dependent on a switch to defensive back but Aiyuk wanted to remain a wideout which is why he chose Arizona State.
In his first year with the Sun Devils, Aiyuk caught 33 passes for 474 yards and three touchdowns while starting three-of-13 games and playing behind first-round pick N’Keal Harry. With Harry in the NFL, Aiyuk became the top dog in the ASU passing game. He was targeted 99 times (26.9-percent target share), catching a team-high 65 receptions for 1,192 yards (18.3 YPR) and eight touchdowns. He averaged 3.04 yards per route and 3.1 yards per team pass attempt. Aiyuk was selected third-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Pac-12.
See Where Brandon Aiyuk Lands In Our 2020 Dynasty Rookie Rankings
While he has plenty of improving to do as a pass-catcher, Aiyuk proved to be a dynamic weapon with the ball in his hands. He averaged 10.9 yards after the catch with 14 broken tackles (PFF) in 2019. The Sun Devils also used him in the return game, where he averaged 31.9 yards per kick return and 16.1 yards per punt return with one touchdown.
Aiyuk measured in smaller and ran slightly slower than expected at the NFL Combine but displayed elite explosiveness with a vertical jump of 40.0-inches and a broad jump of 128.0-inches.
College Stats
Brandon Aiyuk College Stats Courtesy of sports-reference.com
Positives
+3.04 yards per route run
+14 broken tackles
+10.9 YAC
+Aiyuk is a weapon as a returner. He averaged 31.9 yards per kickoff return and 16.1 per punt return with one TD in 2019.
+65th-percentile Speed Score
+92nd-percentile Burst Score
+40.6-percent (82nd-percentile) Dominator Rating
+18.3 YPR (87th-percentile)
+26.9-percent Target Share
+3.1 yards per team attempt
+Above average catch radius
+15-percent of his snaps came from the slot
WR Brandon Aiyuk, ASU
➕92nd-%ile Burst Score
➕40.6% Dominator
➕18.3 YPR
➕3.1 #YardsPer team att
➕10.9 YAC
➕Weapon as a returner➖1-year wonder (senior)
➖21.5 Breakout Age
➖Low TD Share
➖25-percent contested catch rate pic.twitter.com/SztQLEPfsI— Alex Johnson (@a_johnsonFF) March 2, 2020
Negatives
-One-year wonder
-Underwhelming in contested catch situations, especially for a guy of his size. He caught only three-of-14 contested targets in his career (a 25-percent contested catch rate)
-Struggles to be physical before the catch
-Pushes off a ton to create separation down the field
-21.5 Breakout Age (26th-percentile)
-Low TD Share
Highlight Reel
Best Comparable Player (PlayerProfiler): Victor Cruz
NFL Draft Projection: Day Two
Bottom Line:
For Aiyuk to reach his full potential at the next level, he must become more physical on routes and improve his contested catch ability. His production profile is a concern, with just one year of quality production and an age-21.5 breakout. His yards after the catch ability, coupled with his explosiveness in the return game, will help Aiyuk have an immediate impact at the NFL level, even if it means he won’t be useful in fantasy. Aiyuk’s long-term upside is as a WR3 or WR2 on a thin depth chart.
Resources: DLF, PlayerProfiler, NFL.com, PFF
