Braylon Edwards Injury: How Is Fantasy Value for Alex Smith, 49ers Affected?

Bad news gets even worse for the San Francisco 49ers when it comes to their passing offense. First came the news that wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who continues to recover from foot surgery, would not play today against the Dallas Cowboys.

Once the game began, their best available wide receiver, Braylon Edwards, left in the first quarter with a right leg injury and is questionable to return.

San Francisco fields few players worth a fantasy pickup. Their defense? Definitely. Frank Gore? Sure, but there's plenty of risk associated with relying on him as a starter. Quarterback Alex Smith shouldn't be in the conversation about starting, unless you're in a league with 16 or more teams.

A lack of wide receivers certainly helps the stat line for Gore, but from a fantasy football standpoint, it matters little who is catching Smith's passes, for he won't be a must-start quarterback in 2011.

As it stood, Edwards seemed to be the most fantasy-friendly wide receiver on the San Francisco roster, followed by Crabtree as a distant second.

Ted Ginn, used primarily in the return game, has seen his value increase after his two touchdown kick-return-punt-return performance last week against the Seattle Seahawks, and may prove useful to rosters as the season progresses.

In deeper leagues, or if you have a pressing need, Kyle Williams may do in a pinch. But, in my opinion, that has got to be quite a pinch.