Michael Crabtree

Fantasy Upside

Michael Crabtree was the WR12 in PPR last season in his second year as an Oakland Raider. He has recorded 85+ catches, 900+ yards, and 8+ touchdowns in back-to-back seasons. He also led the team with 145 targets, top 10 in the NFL. Many of those targets were gold in the red zone, as Crabtree's 21 red zone targets were fifth in the NFL and were 16 more than Amari Cooper. Derek Carr is only improving, and the Raiders didn't add any receivers of significance.

Fantasy Downside

It's hard to find much downside, given Crabtree's production in Oakland, but if the team opts to funnel more targets through the still-developing Amari Cooper, Crabtree's ceiling could be lower. Some regression also might be in order in the red zone after seeing only 13 red zone targets in 2015, and the team added a beast for their goal-line back in the form of Marshawn Lynch.

2017 Bottom Line

Crabtree again provides some value at his mid-fourth round ADP. There are a handful of receivers going in the third round we do not like as much as Crabtree and his lower ADP. He appears to be a high-floor option.

Week 17 at Denver
Michael Crabtree had seven catches for 90 yards on ten targets in a 33-25 win against the Colts in Week 16. Crabtree has a top-20 target share in the league this year and is second in contested catch rate – 85.7 percent on 14 targets. His target share of 26.09 percent has dwarfed Amari Cooper’s 16.67 percent over the past four games. You know what you are getting from Crabtree at this point and he has high-end touchdown equity week-to-week. It’s a poor matchup against the Broncos in regards to WR aFPA, and Crabtree will be a mid-range WR2 in Week 17.

Week 15 at San Diego
Michael Crabtree had four catches for 21 yards on seven targets in a 21-13 loss against the Chiefs in Week 14. Crabtree was also limited in practice Wednesday and is battling an injury of his own, so be sure and keep an eye on his status (along with Amari Cooper’s) as the week goes on. Health aside, he has a top-20 target share in the league this year and is second in contested catch rate – 84.6 percent on 13 targets. You know what you are getting from Crabtree at this point and he has high-end touchdown equity every week. Crabtree is a low-end WR1 against the Chargers, who grade out as a below-average matchup in regards to WR aFPA.