Week 4 at Chicago
After catching nine passes for 111 yards and a touchdown in Week 2, Michael Crabtree came back to Earth last Sunday in Cleveland, with four receptions for 36 yards in a 27-20 Oakland victory. Although Crabtree is playing better than he did recently in San Francisco, his fantasy stock is capped by the fact Amari Cooper is clearly Oakland’s number one receiver.
However, his status in the pecking order does not necessarily pose a problem this weekend in the Windy City. Only Kansas City has allowed more touchdown passes than Chicago. And of the eight touchdown passes the Bears have allowed, seven of them have been to wide receivers. While Crabtree is far from a sure thing, his outlook is decent enough to where he can be viewed as a WR3 or cheaper daily league option.
Week 5 at Cleveland
Like most of the Raiders, Michael Crabtree was a pleasant surprise in Week 2. He bashed Baltimore’s secondary, totaling nine receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown. Although Amari Cooper has lived up the hype, it is actually Crabtree who currently leads Oakland in receptions.
Cleveland has given up four touchdown passes, but the Browns yield slightly less than 200 passing yards per game. With both teams capable of running the football, this clash does not have the look of a high-scoring affair. Crabtree is worth claiming if he is on the wire in your league, as signs seem to suggest he will at least be a decent spot starter and bye week replacement, but Michael is more of a WR4 this week.
In so many ways, it is ironic Michael Crabtree has ended up with the Raiders, and not just because he used to play across the bay in San Francisco. Back in 2009, Oakland had the seventh pick in the draft and could have taken Crabtree, but opted for Darrius Heyward-Bey instead. At the time, many thought the Raiders made the wrong choice. Time has clearly shown that to be the case, but Crabtree does not come to the Raiders in 2015 as an elite player. He has not been the same since suffering a torn Achillies injury back in May of 2013 during offseason activities. Nonetheless, Crabtree has generated some good vibes during training camp and offers comeback potential. Should fantasy owners buy into that potential?
Fantasy Upside
Of all of the receivers on the Oakland roster, Crabtree has the most proven track record. Before his injury, he was money in 2012, catching 85 passes for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns as the 49ers made it to the Super Bowl. He also caught 73 passes in 2011, a respectable total given San Francisco’s offense was highly conservative. The Raiders only gave him a one-year deal, meaning the 27-year-old will not be lack motivation with the prospect of a nice contract next year if he shows signs of a serious revival. With Oakland QB Derek Carr on the rise, Crabtree has a chance to bounce back in 2015.
Fantasy Downside
Crabtree has a track record, but the Raiders have essentially disregarded that and cast rookie WR Amari Cooper as Carr’s leading man. Oakland’s conservative system will hurt Crabtree’s value much in the same way San Francisco’s system did. Plus, what if Crabtree cannot regain his old form? Players such as Rod Streater and Andre Holmes (once he gets healthy) could push for playing time. Roy Helu will catch plenty of passes out of the backfield, and there is also the possible Carr suffers a sophomore slump.
Bottom Line
Crabtree is worth a gamble later in your draft on the chance he turns the corner this season. He can be drafted in the 12-14 round range, which would put him in WR5 territory. Chances are high he stays in that territory throughout the season for a variety of reasons, but at least his price is not exorbitant. And if something happens to Cooper or Oakland’s passing game proves to be more prosperous to fantasy owners than expected, Crabtree would have the potential to be a steal.
Michael Crabtree Week 17 vs. Cardinals
After catching just one pass for five yards last week, Michael Crabtree has hit a new low for the season. His high, however, came back in Week 3 against Arizona when he caught 10 passes for 80 yards and a score. But it's tough to count on anything like that happening again in the 49ers' popgun passing offense.
Michael Crabtree Week 16 vs. Chargers
Michael Crabtree's three catches for 19 yards last week were hardly a surprise at Seattle. He's dealing with a knee injury but is expected to play against the Chargers. But with Colin Kaepernick struggling, it's hard to recommend Crabtree as anything more than a flex play.
Michael Crabtree Week 15 vs. Seattle
Yes, Michael Crabtree had nine receptions last week. But he managed just 56 yards on those catches. Colin Kaepernick is struggling. And Crabtree had three catches for 10 yards two weeks ago against Seattle - at home. Take a pass on Crabtree this week.
Michael Crabtree Week 14 vs. Raiders
Michael Crabtree, like the rest of the 49ers, was a disappointment last week, catching three passes for 10 yards. He's also dealing with a knee injury. He'll likely play this week but his consistency, much like Colin Kapernick's has been horrid. At this point, he's nothing more than a low-end No. 3 start.
Michael Crabtree Week 13 vs. Seahawks
Michael Crabtree had five catches for 58 yards last week, which was encouraging since he had just three catches in each of his previous two games. But he's clearly not getting the looks that teammate Anquan Boldin is seeing. With a tough matchup against Seattle, Crabtree is a low-end No. 3 receiver or flex play.
Michael Crabtree Week 12 vs. Redskins
Michael Crabtree's 85 yards last week were a season-high. He also scored his third touchdown. But his three receptions? Well, that was pretty much the norm for this now-overlooked receiver. Washington's pass defense has been bad, which keeps Crabtree on the radar as a low-end No. 3 receiver. But that's about the only reason at this point.
Michael Crabtree Week 11 vs. Giants
Michael Crabtree hauled in three passes for 62 yards but is getting just half the looks of Anquan Boldin this season. He expressed some frustration in that role this week. But the Giants are tough against opposing wide receivers. There are just too many dog games in Crabtree's ledger to recommend playing him unless you don't have a better option.
