Crabtree/Hunter Worth The Risk?

Michael Crabtree and Justin Hunter are in two different situations yet they are both intriguing fantasy options.

Analysis: Michael Crabtree now has 6 receptions on 12 targets through two games this year. He looks healthy but his fantasy numbers will come down to quarterback play. Colin Kaepernick only has 16 passing touchdowns in 13 games this year. Carson Palmer, Ryan Tannehill and Alex Smith have all thrown for more passing yards and touchdowns this season. Crabtree is a great addition for the Niners this late in the campaign but the receiving yards and touchdowns may not be there. Crabtree is available in 20-70% of fantasy leagues.

Justin Hunter now has 4 touchdowns on 18 receptions this year(Garcon 3TD/89Rec). He also has two 100-plus receiving yard games in his last three contests. Hunter does have 19 targets in that three game span but it is difficult to trust a wide out with only 18 receptions on the year. At 6’4″ with 4.4 speed Justin Hunter has WR1 potential but he needs time and more importantly another quarterback. Hunter is available in 90-99% of fantasy leagues.

Blackmon Back On Radar

With two consecutive solid games under his belt, Justin Blackmon is back on the fantasy radar.

Analysis: Justin Blackmon had his best fantasy game of his young NFL career posting 5 receptions for just 32 receiving yards and an all important touchdown Sunday against the Detroit Lions. Blackmon added to his previous best fantasy game last week(4 rec, 67 yards) as he finally seems more acclimated to the pro game.

The Oklahoma State product has been targeted 17 times over the past two weeks which is a postive sign considering he only averaged 5 targets per game in the first month of the season. I’m not saying Blackmon has turned the corner but he is improving which is what we saw from Michael Crabtree in his wasted rookie year.

At the moment Blackmon is available in over half of fantasy leagues and he is worth roster consideration. His targets seem to be stable and if he can limit his drops and be on the end of more accurate passes he may even have some value in PPR leagues… although I wouldn’t hold my breath. There aren’t many wide outs available on the wire that will be targeted as much as Blackmon but he is far from reliable as he lands back on the fantasy radar.

Last Call On Michael Crabtree

Michael Crabtree amassed 77 receiving yards on nine receptions Sunday against Detroit.

Analysis: Michael Crabtree is only owned in 62% of ESPN leagues and 57% of CBS fantasy leagues. With a staggering fifteen targets Sunday, Crabtree is now a must own in all leagues. He may not have a touchdown on the year but depth wide outs don’t need to, they just need to be targeted enough to put up some points while your big guns are either out with a bye or injury.

The Niners are headed into their bye this week and that actually may work to your benefit if you are looking to pick up an available Michael Crabtree. After the bye the Niners do not play a good defense until week twelve in Baltimore and even with the Ravens they do not have great cornerbacks. The Niners will get Braylon Edwards back sometime soon but Michael Crabtree is now the man in San Fran.

Key Stat: Keep in mind that stud tight end Vernon Davis has only eleven targets over the last three weeks to Crabtree’s twenty-nine.

Don’t Even Think About Braylon

With the ink still wet from Braylon Edwards’ one year deal with the Niners- his fantasy value is now next to nothing.

Analysis: Braylon Edwards has went from a very solid depth wide out for your fantasy squad to worthless. Edwards had a decent year with the Jets in 2010, amassing 904 yards with seven scores. Now, with Alex Smith as his quarterback all hope for Edwards is lost for the 2011 season. Smith brings so much to the table- his 72.1 career passer rating, his 51 TD to 53 INT ratio and of course the fact that he’s never thrown for 3,000 yards or twenty touchdowns in a year. We also cannot ignore that Vernon Davis is still Smith’s go-to-guy and Michael Crabtree is a good wide out despite his numbers. At this point depth wide outs in Edwards’ ADP range that do have some upside include Mike Walker and Lance Moore. Edwards may be one of the more electrifying receivers in the NFL at times but he’s playing with a JV quarterback. Even if Michael Crabtree’s left foot is a severe injury which it doesn’t appear to be, don’t even think about Braylon come draft day.