The fantasy football season is getting closer to a finish and heading into the back stretch, fantasy football owners will be looking for the best injury value picks and at wide receiver the best names include Michael Crabtree and Randall Cobb, as both could make big impacts come that time of year.
Crabtree has not played in a game this season and while he is getting closer to returning, ESPN.com is reporting that the 49ers still are not sure when he will be back and it likely will not be this week against the Washington Redskins on Monday night football after missing the game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Crabtree went down with an Achilles injury back in the spring and with the 49ers in a bit of a slump, they really could use him back in the passing game. Crabtree did not practice last week and the team said that he is "progressing" and while fantasy owners might be worried about his return, a bench stashing is worth the value if he can return healthy this season.
Crabtree is the best receiver that the Niners have and with Colin Kaepernick struggling, what he really could use is another dominating WR back in the offense. It likely will take some time for him to get back to game speed, but if he returns before Week 13 or 14, he could be a factor in the playoffs in reality and fantasy after making 85 catches for over 1,000 yards last season with nine touchdowns and when he comes back he would automatically be the number one guy again. The team has a long break with Monday night football coming, but that doesn't mean he will be activated before that game.
The team is currently ranked last in the league in passing yards per game and while they are first in rushing, the loss of Crabtree and other injuries have really hurt the passing attack and it appears that Colin Kaepernick has taken a step back since breaking out last season and leading the team to the Super Bowl. The Niners had won five straight games heading into their bye week, but they have lost the last two and now the Washington Redskins on Monday night football are next and the schedule doesn't get much easier, as the team plays the Seattle Seahawks two weeks after that. The team finishes the season with the Buccaneers and Cardinals on the road and the Falcons in the middle of that at home and if Crabtree comes back by then, it could be huge for the Niners.
Cobb is not eligible to return until Week 15 and that may come too late for fantasy owners, but he still could be a nice stash option leading into the back stretch. Cobb was one of the leaders on the Packers with 29 catches for 378 yards when he went down and in his last five games he had two touchdowns and two games with over 100 yards receiving and he could be very good if he is healthy when he is eligible to come back.