Michael Crabtree

Week 4 at Baltimore
Michael Crabtree is coming off a 8-102 line on 11 targets in Week 3. In a career resurgence, Crabtree finished 11th in the NFL in total targets (146), 18th in target share (24.3%), and 11th in total touchdowns (9) in 2015. Crabtree also led the team in red zone targets (13). He'll line up primarily against cornerback Jimmy Smith in Week 4, which is a matchup that Crabtree has the potential to win. Crabtree has topped 80 yards twice in the last three games and is also a road underdog in Week 4.

Week 2 vs. Atlanta
Michael Crabtree is coming off of a massive 7-87 line on 9 targets in a 35-34 win against the Saints in Week 1. He converted a two-point conversion with the game on the line for the Raiders where he made a fantastic adjustment to the ball in the air. In a career resurgence, Crabtree finished 11th in the NFL in total targets (146), 18th in target share (24.3%), and 11th in total touchdowns (9) in 2015. Crabtree also led the team in red zone targets (13). In a tough matchup against the Falcons (who are one of the strongest teams in the league in regards to WR aFPA), Crabtree should spend most of his time lined up against Robert Alford, which is a matchup he can definitely win. That said, he is a low-end WR2 in Week 2.

Fantasy Upside
Michael Crabtree revitalized his career in 2015 after signing in Oakland without too much interest in elsewhere in free agency. He made the most of his “prove-it” deal and outperformed the fourth overall pick Amari Cooper for most of the season especially in the red zone. Crabtree averaged 5.3 catches for 57.6 yards and 0.56 touchdowns per game last season where he finished as the PPR WR17, two spots ahead of Cooper.

Fantasy Downside
Cooper was injured down the stretch and that lead to more targets for Crabtree. Going forward, the Raiders will be a much better team in 2016 and will likely lean heavily on the run game under Jack Del Rio. Improvements on both the offensive line and the defense should keep games closer and at times even negatively effect members of the passing game who lived off of garbage time volume in 2015.

2016 Bottom Line
Crabtree could see a dip in targets after his 146 from last year but even so, he is a value at his current sixth round ADP. His involvement in the red zone and chemistry with Derek Carr have proved invaluable as Crabtree averaged over half a touchdown per game last season.