San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk entered Week 14 as Pro Football Focus' third-highest graded rookie. He had a career game, statistically, during Sunday's 23-15 loss to Washington, hauling in 10 passes for 119 yards, but saw Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Tristan Wirfs overcome him for the No. 3 spot.
Now, at No. 4, Aiyuk still edges Washington's Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate, Chase Young, and looks to have a strong finish to the season.
"Aiyuk was targeted at the highest rate of his NFL career on Sunday against the Football Team, and he was able to average 2.53 yards per route run to go along with a 74.5 receiving grade," wrote Anthony Treash. "This continues an impressive stretch of play from the first-year receiver. Over the first five games of his rookie campaign, Aiyuk recorded a mediocre 68.7 receiving grade. He has raised that mark to 85.7 in the five games since, the fourth-best at the position over that span.
"He has a great chance of continuing that streak next week as he faces a Dallas Cowboys coverage unit that ranks 27th in the league in PFF coverage grade."
PFF's 5 highest-graded rookies
WR Justin Jefferson, Vikings, 89.5
T Michael Onwenu, Patriots, 84.4
T Tristan Wirfs, Buccaneers, 81.4
WR Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers, 80.4
DE Chase Young, Washington, 79.8
Aiyuk, a first-round pick, has caught 50 passes for 660 yards with four receiving touchdowns and has added five carries for 61 yards and two rushing scores through 10 games this season. He is just 267 receiving yards away from Jerry Rice's 49ers rookie record for receiving yards and has three games remaining to reach the 927-yard mark set in 1985.
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