Will Michael Crabtree Be the Latest Third-Year Receiver to Blossom?

We have been waiting Mr. Crabtree. Waiting for the monster numbers that justified your angst for being taken with just the 10th pick of the 2009 NFL draft.

After two years and 27 games, Michael Crabtree has 103 catches for 1,366 yards and eight touchdowns. He has just two 100-yard games under his belt and has yet to deliver a multiple-touchdown game.

It’s not all Crabtree’s fault. The holdout was silly, which got him off on the wrong foot, but he hasn’t exactly had the kind of quarterback play that reminds 49ers fans of Jeff Garcia, let alone joe Montana or  Steve Young.

Alex Smith is wildly inconsistent, which is not ideal for a young receiver looking to make his mark.

Crabtree’s overall numbers don’t illustrate how bad his season was. He averaged 46.3 yards per game, but he was below that mark in half of his game.

In six more games, he failed to top 61 yards. That’s 14 games with 61 or fewer yards for those of you keeping score at home.

In four of the games he bailed himself out with a touchdown, but that only gives him six games in which he had more than six fantasy points (non-PPR scoring).

With speculation that his foot is bothering him and concerns that he keeps himself isolated from the team, the question marks start to pop up. Fantasy drafts aren’t taking place any time soon so you should have ample time to monitor Crabtree before deciding whether or not he’s right for your fantasy team.

One thing to keep in mind is the 49ers’ move to the West Coast Offense. Without a big time burst, Crabtree is better suited for this offense. Crabtree’s Mock Draft Central ADP is 27th among wide receiver, which appears to be a pretty good slot.

I probably wouldn’t want him as an WR2, but he’s not a bad option for a WR3. 

Also check out:

• 2011 Early Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• 2011 Early Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• 2011 Early Fantasy Football WR Rankings
• 2011 Early Fantasy Football TE Rankings