NFL San Francisco 49ers

Michael Crabtree Will Be X-Factor For San Francisco 49ers In Week 6

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By @sdmeyers1

Michael Crabtree

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The San Francisco 49ers made a concerted effort to beef up their receiving corps this offseason, adding a pair of veterans and a talented rookie to the unit.

Those moves have paid dividends through the first five weeks, as Stevie Johnson and Brandon Lloyd have made timely contributions, while rookie Bruce Ellington has also played a role in the 49ers’ success.

The incumbent No. 1 receiver with the team, though, has looked anything like the top target to this point. Michael Crabtree has battled injury and inconsistency through the first five weeks of the season, but a Week 6 matchup with the St. Louis Rams will provide him an opportunity to get back on track.

Crabtree steadily improved over his first four seasons in the NFL, culminating in 2012 when he notched more than 1,100 yards receiving and scored nine times. Last season, he sustained an Achilles’ injury that limited him to just five games in the regular campaign. Perhaps the defining moment of each of the past two seasons, though, came on plays that Crabtree could not make in the most crucial times.

In Super Bowl XLVII, the 49ers targeted Crabtree on the decisive fourth-down play near the goal line that would’ve given San Francisco the lead in the waning moments. Last year, in the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick again targeted Crabtree when the team needed a score, but again, the play did not come to fruition, as Malcolm Smith recorded the decisive interception.

Crabtree entered this season with arguably more to prove than anyone else on the roster, as he looked to redeem those two shortcomings, while also earning himself a significant raise in the final year of his rookie contract.

So far, however, he’s been a non-factor in the three 49ers’ victories, particularly last week when he recorded just one catch for 16 yards. A foot ailment limited him in the season opener, and he appeared to re-aggravate the injury in Week 4.

Crabtree faces a St. Louis defense that has allowed the fewest passing yards against this season. That statistic is somewhat misleading, though, as opponents have attempted a league-low 106 passes against St. Louis. That trend combined with the apparent return to the power running attack for the 49ers over the past two weeks could mean that Crabtree may not have a bevy of opportunities to make his mark on Monday night.

To that point, he played less than 60 percent of the offensive snaps in the victory last week. He must make the most of his chances; not only to set the tone against the Rams, but for the rest of the season.

Crabtree has been often maligned during his six seasons in San Francisco, but he’s close to becoming a second-tier option for the 49ers’ attack if his poor play continues. San Francisco running back Frank Gore appeared to be headed down a similar path earlier this season, but showed his resolve with bounce-back efforts against the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.

Now it’s time for Crabtree to respond, and with a critical matchup with the Denver Broncos looming, he needs to re-establish himself this week against an inferior opponent.

Sean Meyers is a professional wrestling writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and “Like” him on Facebook.

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