Michael Crabtree Thoughts for 2012? (1 Viewer)

[solorca]

I'm looking for some thoughts on Michael Crabtree going into next season. At the end of 2011, he was becoming a nice WR3 level PPR option, and was putting up solid and consistent points most weeks, pretty much as the only decent receiving option in San Fransisco.

Now, with Randy Moss, Mario Manningham, and AJ Jenkins in San Fransisco, where do you see him in 2012? Will the extra receivers enable him to get open easier, and allow him to put up better yardage...or will they simply take away his opportunities?

 

[Banemorth]

More mouths to feed with a bad QB. I want no part of any of San Fran's offense with the exception of *maybe* Vernon Davis.

 

[meyerj31]

At Stanford, with one of the best passing QBs in the nation, Harbaugh designed a system where Luck averaged 21 completions per game over a two-year period (2010 & 2011). Did they not have good receivers? I'm not sure, but I'm really surprised that he only threw the ball that much.

Alex Smith by most accounts had a pretty decent season, but still, with Harbaugh in charge of the scheme/play-calling, only 17 passes were completed per game. He's just not a very pass-oriented coach, which is surprising since he's a former QB.

Both Crabtree and Vernon had about 1/4 the targets in San Fran last year. Assuming with the upgrade of the WR core, the team as a whole may complete 3-4 more passes per game, and the other WRs will likely get the additional quantities... but do they cut even more into Crabtree's production?

Possibly, but even at 20% of targets, he should be a viable WR3/4, with only slightly to sub 800 yard numbers. The dude over at PFF seems to agree with that concept, as he pegged him for 744 yards in his offensive projections next year.

I like him better than other receivers drafted around his ADP (mid 7th?) like Mike Williams, Sidney Rice, and Pierre Garcon. But I wouldn't expect a 1,000 yard season out of him.

 

[finito]

I'm bullish on him. He was pretty good considering he had a bum foot the first half of the season. I think he could flirt with 1k even in that offense.

 

[Boone22]

This is the first year he'll get in a full HEALTHY preseason. I think that goes a long way toward boosting his numbers this year. That being said, I still think Smith caps his value.

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

Wr3 is best scenario

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

He had two good games vs Rams:

Week 13- 4 rec for 96 yards 1 TD

Week 17- 8 rec for 86 yards 2 TD

The Rams were one of the worst secondaries in the league.

Only other games over 70 receiving yards ALL season:

Week 6 vs Detroit- 9 rec for 77 yards 0 TD

Week 11 vs Zona - 7 rec for 120 yards 0 TD

Week 16 vs Seattle - 5 rec for 85 yards 0 TD

He's just pedestrian.

 

[Hoosier16]

He had two good games vs Rams:Week 13- 4 rec for 96 yards 1 TDWeek 17- 8 rec for 86 yards 2 TDThe Rams were one of the worst secondaries in the league.Only other games over 70 receiving yards ALL season:Week 6 vs Detroit- 9 rec for 77 yards 0 TDWeek 11 vs Zona - 7 rec for 120 yards 0 TDWeek 16 vs Seattle - 5 rec for 85 yards 0 TDHe's just pedestrian.

He may be, but those teams make up 7 of his 16 games this season.

 

[DoubleG]

He had two good games vs Rams:

Week 13- 4 rec for 96 yards 1 TD

Week 17- 8 rec for 86 yards 2 TD

The Rams were one of the worst secondaries in the league.

Only other games over 70 receiving yards ALL season:

Week 6 vs Detroit- 9 rec for 77 yards 0 TD

Week 11 vs Zona - 7 rec for 120 yards 0 TD

Week 16 vs Seattle - 5 rec for 85 yards 0 TD

He's just pedestrian.

Please stop using this horrible logic. The whole "if we just take out the (one big run/3 big games/80 yard TD catch/the 3 games I don't like because they fly in the face of the argument I am trying to make), then he's bad" line of thinking is weak sauce. Is Crabtree what many were predicting? No. He's a WR3/4 with questionable work ethic which causes him to disappear for stretches (sometimes games). He has a mediocre QB to boot. The results yield less than the WR1/2 many were predicting when he came out - we get it. But please, everyone, stop trying to manipulate the stats so obviously. TIA.ETA: Fixed typos and implore everyone to stop - for the love of FF.

 

[chinawildman]

Crabtree is straddling the bust label already, and there is pressure for him to put up or shut up this season as evidenced by the 49er offseason acquisitions. Alot of his struggles comes from lack of offseason work and also poor conditioning. Of any wide receiver taken in the top 10, he just doesn't look the part. Frequently I see him trying moves that seem good in theory, but he just looks slow or slips or something. Perhaps he's just not that talented, but I would keep my ears open for any local beat writers' assessments of what kind of shape he's in.

I'm looking for some thoughts on Michael Crabtree going into next season. At the end of 2011, he was becoming a nice WR3 level PPR option, and was putting up solid and consistent points most weeks, pretty much as the only decent receiving option in San Fransisco. Now, with Randy Moss, Mario Manningham, and AJ Jenkins in San Fransisco, where do you see him in 2012? Will the extra receivers enable him to get open easier, and allow him to put up better yardage...or will they simply take away his opportunities?

 

[Young 8]

He'll be released at the end of the season if he continues to suck

 

[cstu]

He'll be released at the end of the season if he continues to suck

You'd have to be blind not to notice that the 49ers are planning to dump him soon. All of these WR signings and drafting a WR in the 1st point to it. The only reason he's probably still there this season is his salary is $4M and they still have ~$4M left from his signing bonus on the books. Next year they'll get to dump his $5M salary and only take a $2.7M hit from the signing bonus.

 

[Hoosier16]

He'll be released at the end of the season if he continues to suck

You'd have to be blind not to notice that the 49ers are planning to dump him soon. All of these WR signings and drafting a WR in the 1st point to it. The only reason he's probably still there this season is his salary is $4M and they still have ~$4M left from his signing bonus on the books. Next year they'll get to dump his $5M salary and only take a $2.7M hit from the signing bonus.

You know, there is more than one WR roster position. Maybe they might just be trying to fill the #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6 WR slots.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

He had two good games vs Rams:

Week 13- 4 rec for 96 yards 1 TD

Week 17- 8 rec for 86 yards 2 TD

The Rams were one of the worst secondaries in the league.

Only other games over 70 receiving yards ALL season:

Week 6 vs Detroit- 9 rec for 77 yards 0 TD

Week 11 vs Zona - 7 rec for 120 yards 0 TD

Week 16 vs Seattle - 5 rec for 85 yards 0 TD

He's just pedestrian.

Please stop using this horrible logic. The whole "if we just take out the (one big run/3 big games/80 yard TD catch/the 3 games I don't like because they fly in the face of the argument I am trying to make), then he's bad" line of thinking is weak sauce. Is Crabtree what many were predicting? No. He's a WR3/4 with questionable work ethic which causes him to disappear for stretches (sometimes games). He has a mediocre QB to boot. The results yield less than the WR1/2 many were predicting when he came out - we get it. But please, everyone, stop trying to manipulate the stats so obviously. TIA.ETA: Fixed typos and implore everyone to stop - for the love of FF.

We all have our own ways to look at things. But I included ALL of his good games last year. His two best happened to be against one of the worst secondaries in football

 

[DoubleG]

He had two good games vs Rams:

Week 13- 4 rec for 96 yards 1 TD

Week 17- 8 rec for 86 yards 2 TD

The Rams were one of the worst secondaries in the league.

Only other games over 70 receiving yards ALL season:

Week 6 vs Detroit- 9 rec for 77 yards 0 TD

Week 11 vs Zona - 7 rec for 120 yards 0 TD

Week 16 vs Seattle - 5 rec for 85 yards 0 TD

He's just pedestrian.

Please stop using this horrible logic. The whole "if we just take out the (one big run/3 big games/80 yard TD catch/the 3 games I don't like because they fly in the face of the argument I am trying to make), then he's bad" line of thinking is weak sauce. Is Crabtree what many were predicting? No. He's a WR3/4 with questionable work ethic which causes him to disappear for stretches (sometimes games). He has a mediocre QB to boot. The results yield less than the WR1/2 many were predicting when he came out - we get it. But please, everyone, stop trying to manipulate the stats so obviously. TIA.ETA: Fixed typos and implore everyone to stop - for the love of FF.

We all have our own ways to look at things. But I included ALL of his good games last year. His two best happened to be against one of the worst secondaries in football

Yes, and other WRs got to play against that same secondary - almost every week it happened! We get it. It's still cherry picking and poor logic.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

He had two good games vs Rams:

Week 13- 4 rec for 96 yards 1 TD

Week 17- 8 rec for 86 yards 2 TD

The Rams were one of the worst secondaries in the league.

Only other games over 70 receiving yards ALL season:

Week 6 vs Detroit- 9 rec for 77 yards 0 TD

Week 11 vs Zona - 7 rec for 120 yards 0 TD

Week 16 vs Seattle - 5 rec for 85 yards 0 TD

He's just pedestrian.

Please stop using this horrible logic. The whole "if we just take out the (one big run/3 big games/80 yard TD catch/the 3 games I don't like because they fly in the face of the argument I am trying to make), then he's bad" line of thinking is weak sauce. Is Crabtree what many were predicting? No. He's a WR3/4 with questionable work ethic which causes him to disappear for stretches (sometimes games). He has a mediocre QB to boot. The results yield less than the WR1/2 many were predicting when he came out - we get it. But please, everyone, stop trying to manipulate the stats so obviously. TIA.ETA: Fixed typos and implore everyone to stop - for the love of FF.

We all have our own ways to look at things. But I included ALL of his good games last year. His two best happened to be against one of the worst secondaries in football

Yes, and other WRs got to play against that same secondary - almost every week it happened! We get it. It's still cherry picking and poor logic.

You're jumping to conclusions. Why didn't he play well the rest of the season? Why did he only have 1 TD the rest of the season? That's my point. A startable FF WR should have more than 5 games over 70 yards receiving.

 

[finito]

Supposedly his foot is healthy and this is the best he's felt in the pros so far in his career. If this is true then I'm willing to wait and see what he can do when 100%.

 

[Buckna]

He had two good games vs Rams:

Week 13- 4 rec for 96 yards 1 TD

Week 17- 8 rec for 86 yards 2 TD

The Rams were one of the worst secondaries in the league.

Only other games over 70 receiving yards ALL season:

Week 6 vs Detroit- 9 rec for 77 yards 0 TD

Week 11 vs Zona - 7 rec for 120 yards 0 TD

Week 16 vs Seattle - 5 rec for 85 yards 0 TD

He's just pedestrian.

Please stop using this horrible logic. The whole "if we just take out the (one big run/3 big games/80 yard TD catch/the 3 games I don't like because they fly in the face of the argument I am trying to make), then he's bad" line of thinking is weak sauce. Is Crabtree what many were predicting? No. He's a WR3/4 with questionable work ethic which causes him to disappear for stretches (sometimes games). He has a mediocre QB to boot. The results yield less than the WR1/2 many were predicting when he came out - we get it. But please, everyone, stop trying to manipulate the stats so obviously. TIA.ETA: Fixed typos and implore everyone to stop - for the love of FF.

We all have our own ways to look at things. But I included ALL of his good games last year. His two best happened to be against one of the worst secondaries in football

Yes, and other WRs got to play against that same secondary - almost every week it happened! We get it. It's still cherry picking and poor logic.

You're jumping to conclusions. Why didn't he play well the rest of the season? Why did he only have 1 TD the rest of the season? That's my point. A startable FF WR should have more than 5 games over 70 yards receiving.

Hard to have more than 70 yards on a consistent basis if your QB averages less than 200 passing every game.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

He had two good games vs Rams:

Week 13- 4 rec for 96 yards 1 TD

Week 17- 8 rec for 86 yards 2 TD

The Rams were one of the worst secondaries in the league.

Only other games over 70 receiving yards ALL season:

Week 6 vs Detroit- 9 rec for 77 yards 0 TD

Week 11 vs Zona - 7 rec for 120 yards 0 TD

Week 16 vs Seattle - 5 rec for 85 yards 0 TD

He's just pedestrian.

Please stop using this horrible logic. The whole "if we just take out the (one big run/3 big games/80 yard TD catch/the 3 games I don't like because they fly in the face of the argument I am trying to make), then he's bad" line of thinking is weak sauce. Is Crabtree what many were predicting? No. He's a WR3/4 with questionable work ethic which causes him to disappear for stretches (sometimes games). He has a mediocre QB to boot. The results yield less than the WR1/2 many were predicting when he came out - we get it. But please, everyone, stop trying to manipulate the stats so obviously. TIA.ETA: Fixed typos and implore everyone to stop - for the love of FF.

We all have our own ways to look at things. But I included ALL of his good games last year. His two best happened to be against one of the worst secondaries in football

Yes, and other WRs got to play against that same secondary - almost every week it happened! We get it. It's still cherry picking and poor logic.

You're jumping to conclusions. Why didn't he play well the rest of the season? Why did he only have 1 TD the rest of the season? That's my point. A startable FF WR should have more than 5 games over 70 yards receiving.

Hard to have more than 70 yards on a consistent basis if your QB averages less than 200 passing every game.

Very true

 

[FF Ninja]

My thoughts on Crabtree are simple. I like his chances of finishing above WR36 and being drafted below WR36. I'll be pretty shocked if he finishes above WR20, though.

 

[ookook]

Seems like he just cannot get any separation from defenders.

Unless you have a special QB who likes to squeeze the ball into those spots (which he does not), I do not predict much (if any) improvement.

Me thinks he lacks quickness.

 

[cstu]

He'll be released at the end of the season if he continues to suck

You'd have to be blind not to notice that the 49ers are planning to dump him soon. All of these WR signings and drafting a WR in the 1st point to it. The only reason he's probably still there this season is his salary is $4M and they still have ~$4M left from his signing bonus on the books. Next year they'll get to dump his $5M salary and only take a $2.7M hit from the signing bonus.

You know, there is more than one WR roster position. Maybe they might just be trying to fill the #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6 WR slots.

They could, but I get the impression that he's not a very popular player and it may be addition by subtraction if they get rid of him.

 

[finito]

He'll be released at the end of the season if he continues to suck

You'd have to be blind not to notice that the 49ers are planning to dump him soon. All of these WR signings and drafting a WR in the 1st point to it. The only reason he's probably still there this season is his salary is $4M and they still have ~$4M left from his signing bonus on the books. Next year they'll get to dump his $5M salary and only take a $2.7M hit from the signing bonus.

You know, there is more than one WR roster position. Maybe they might just be trying to fill the #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6 WR slots.

They could, but I get the impression that he's not a very popular player and it may be addition by subtraction if they get rid of him.

That could be the best thing for his career maybe.

 

[Buckna]

He'll be released at the end of the season if he continues to suck

You'd have to be blind not to notice that the 49ers are planning to dump him soon. All of these WR signings and drafting a WR in the 1st point to it. The only reason he's probably still there this season is his salary is $4M and they still have ~$4M left from his signing bonus on the books. Next year they'll get to dump his $5M salary and only take a $2.7M hit from the signing bonus.

You know, there is more than one WR roster position. Maybe they might just be trying to fill the #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6 WR slots.

They could, but I get the impression that he's not a very popular player and it may be addition by subtraction if they get rid of him.

Troubling they keep bringing guys in but they keep losing guys too. Braylon was a 1yr contract and got cut before the end of it. They lost Josh Morgan to FA this year. Moss is on a 1 year deal and Manningham on a cheap 2 year deal (I could see Moss being cut in TC.) I see Jenkins much more as a compliment as a stretch the field/deep threat vs Crabtree who is more of possession guy.Though by far the best thing for Crabtree's fantasy prospects is to get out of 49'er land. Alex Smith and the offense passed for 3100 yards last year. Rarely anything exciting in fantasy about that.

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

Alex Smith will only make the safe throws. Throws into tight windows or based on timing that many other QB's will atleast attempt as a requirement of the job he doesn't and by now it may even be by design(harbaugh seeing the weakness). I think Crabtree is more anquan boldin than anything where he has good hands and he's dangerous once he gets the ball but he just doesn't have necessary burst to create great separation. the foot being healthy and full camp could change things however. he can't change his QB

 

[johnadams]

My thoughts on Crabtree are simple. I like his chances of finishing above WR36 and being drafted below WR36. I'll be pretty shocked if he finishes above WR20, though.

This is about all that's really required. Hard to say what Crabtree would do with an above average QB, but that's not happening this year. Above average talent, below average QB, extremely WR unfriendly offense don't make for good numbers.

 

[5Rings]

He'll be released at the end of the season if he continues to suck

You'd have to be blind not to notice that the 49ers are planning to dump him soon. All of these WR signings and drafting a WR in the 1st point to it. The only reason he's probably still there this season is his salary is $4M and they still have ~$4M left from his signing bonus on the books. Next year they'll get to dump his $5M salary and only take a $2.7M hit from the signing bonus.

Lloyd and Harry

 

[Ghost of Bill Walsh]

As a #10 pick he still won't put up numbers worthy of where he was drafted even if Alex Smith improves. As was said he's not turning out to be the player they thought he'd be and I don't ever see him being a viable #1 guy. WR 3/4 at best. Only receiver I'm gonna trust right now in that offense is my former U of MD TE Vernon Davis. Game contol, clock control, move the chanins, play good defense will probably be what they'll do. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Yet they better improve a lot in the red zone with TD's instead of FG's or they're gonna find themselves losing games they shoulda won. Crabtree won't be more than WR3 on my rosters & a bye week fill in. Still too inconsistant for me to count on.

 

[MAC_32]

He'll be released at the end of the season if he continues to suck

You'd have to be blind not to notice that the 49ers are planning to dump him soon. All of these WR signings and drafting a WR in the 1st point to it. The only reason he's probably still there this season is his salary is $4M and they still have ~$4M left from his signing bonus on the books. Next year they'll get to dump his $5M salary and only take a $2.7M hit from the signing bonus.

If he finally breaks out then all bets are off, but that reaks of wishful thinking imho. The 9ers see Jenkins and Manningham as their starting WR's in 2013 as of right now, Hunter and LaMichael in the backfield.Could, will, 2012 change things? Absolutely, but as of today I believe that's what they're thinking.

 

[Coeur de Lion]

Fantasy-wise, I'm not a big fan at this point. The situation is just terrible: team passing for < 200 yards / game, passing game built around high % throws to TE and RBs, competing for targets with a top-5 talent at TE. Someone always seems to think Crabtree is a breakout candidate, and drafts him accordingly. I just don't see the upside at all.

NFL-wise, no he hasn't lived up to his draft status, but come on, he doesn't totally blow. He's not gonna get cut outright people. WRs sometimes take time to develop, and he did show some signs of life last year. He's a decent starting WR from what I've seen. He's not going to be a tremendous playmaker, but he should have a solid career as a possession guy / WR2 type. IIRC he got praise from Harbaugh as a blocker last year, which is likely pretty important in SF's ball control offense. He's a viable player for the Niners moving forward.