Michael Crabtree caught five passes for 72 yards and a touchdown in the 49ers' Week 8 win over the Cardinals on Monday night.

Michael Crabtree has been targeted on just four passes further than 15 yards downfield this season. Crabtree's receptions are up slightly, but the 49ers are no longer asking him to run down the football field for vertical strikes. Vernon Davis is their primary "shot-play" receiver, leading the Niners with ten pass targets of 15-plus yards downfield. Crabtree has settled in as a possession player in San Francisco. He's more of a PPR than standard-league asset in fantasy leagues.

Michael Crabtree caught four passes for 31 yards in Week 7 against Seattle. Crabtree and Frank Gore tied for the team lead with six targets on Thursday night. The physical Seattle secondary held the San Francisco receivers in check, but the defense didn't have an answer for Gore out of the backfield. Crabtree did his work on a screen pass and a couple of short slants. Aside from that, there wasn't much going on. He'll be a WR3 in Week 8 against the Cardinals.

Michael Crabtree managed just three catches for 26 yards versus the Giants in Week 6. Crabtree's six targets were second only to Mario Manningham's 10, but Alex Smith couldn't get him the ball until garbage time. Heading into a Week 6 matchup with the Seahawks' physical corners, Crabtree is just a borderline WR3 fantasy option.

Michael Crabtree hauled in six passes for 113 yards and a touchdown versus the Bills in Week 5. Crabtree would have shattered his career high of 122 yards had a 41-yard catch-and-run not been nullified by a Frank Gore chop block. Looking better than ever after the catch, thanks in large part to the poor tackling of Buffalo's linebackers, Crabtree also posted a 36-yard catch-and-run and a 28-yard touchdown. He should see plenty of Giants CB Nate Webster, who has been torched this season, next week.

Michael Crabtree led the 49ers in receiving for the second straight week in Sunday's win over the Lions, hauling in six passes for 67 yards. The typically sure-handed Crabtree would have hauled in all seven of his targets if not for an ugly second-quarter drop. Three of Crabtree's receptions moved the chains on third down on San Francisco's game-sealing fourth-quarter touchdown drive. Crabtree's upside is limited in San Francisco's deliberate attack, but he's locked in as a WR3.

Michael Crabtree caught a team-leading seven passes for 76 yards in San Francisco's Week 1 win in Green Bay. Crabtree's nine targets were four more than any other Niners' pass catcher. The 49ers rarely challenged downfield this afternoon, but Crabtree was able to tack on some extra yards by breaking a few tackles. Despite the 49ers' offseason reshuffling at receiver, Crabtree should hold his low-end WR3 value.

49ers OC Greg Roman and CB Carlos Rogers both insist Michael Crabtree has looked faster this training camp than ever before. Crabtree has been largely healthy during his first full NFL offseason. "He was playing last year on a bad wheel and battled his way through it," Roman said. "I think he's a lot healthier this year, and he certainly appears to be much quicker and faster." Crabtree was drafted in 2009 and has never ranked better than 33rd among fantasy receivers. He's a low-end WR3 again this year.

Coach John Harbaugh announced Michael Crabtree and Ted Ginn as his starting wide receivers for Friday's exhibition opener. The inclusion of Ginn suggests Harbaugh is simply rewarding players who were key pieces on last year's AFC West championship squad. Crabtree, Randy Moss and Mario Manningham remain the favorites to open the season as the top three receivers.

Michael Crabtree (calf) says there's nothing "holding him back" from playing in Friday's preseason opener, but admits whether he plays is up to the coaching staff. Crabtree got in his first full practice on Tuesday, but almost certainly won't play against the Vikings. That would make him 0-for-13 on suiting up for preseason games in his career. God willing, he'll make his exhibition debut on August 18 in Houston.