When the No. 1 type receivers are coming off the board in fantasy drafts this summer, there's one guy who probably won't be selected as that sort of player. Washington's Jamison Crowder doesn't fit the physical profile, but his production does, and offseason reports are very good.
For one thing, he has a strong early rapport with new quarterback Alex Smith. The link notes that Smith has had his most success in recent years while targeting slot receivers.
But also, Crowder is fully healthy, after dealing with hamstring issues last season. And he's in a contract year, motivated to put up big numbers and get paid like one of the league's better performers a year from now. Which he's been the last two years.
Crowder, hamstring issues and competition for targets in Washington's offense and all, has caught 133 balls the last two seasons. That's a top-20 number for wide receivers, up among a bunch of players who will be selected much earlier in most drafts. Better than you might expect.
WIDE RECEIVER RECEPTIONS, 2016-2017 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | 2016 | Yds | 2017 | Yds | Total |
Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 107 | 1023 | 109 | 1156 | 216 |
Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 106 | 1284 | 101 | 1533 | 207 |
Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 94 | 1136 | 112 | 987 | 206 |
Michael Thomas, N.O. | 92 | 1137 | 104 | 1245 | 196 |
Golden Tate, Det. | 91 | 1077 | 92 | 1003 | 183 |
DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 78 | 954 | 96 | 1378 | 174 |
Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 90 | 1083 | 83 | 949 | 173 |
Julio Jones, Atl. | 83 | 1409 | 88 | 1444 | 171 |
Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 94 | 1128 | 75 | 991 | 169 |
Mike Evans, T.B. | 96 | 1321 | 71 | 1001 | 167 |
Adam Thielen, Minn. | 69 | 967 | 91 | 1276 | 160 |
Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 97 | 1257 | 53 | 482 | 150 |
Davante Adams, G.B. | 75 | 997 | 74 | 885 | 149 |
T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 91 | 1448 | 57 | 966 | 148 |
Stefon Diggs, Minn. | 84 | 903 | 64 | 849 | 148 |
Michael Crabtree, Oak. | 89 | 1003 | 58 | 618 | 147 |
Brandin Cooks, N.E. | 78 | 1173 | 65 | 1082 | 143 |
A.J. Green, Cin. | 66 | 964 | 75 | 1078 | 141 |
Jamison Crowder, Wash. | 67 | 847 | 66 | 789 | 133 |
Amari Cooper, Oak. | 83 | 1153 | 48 | 680 | 131 |
Mohamed Sanu, Atl. | 59 | 653 | 67 | 703 | 126 |
Randall Cobb, G.B. | 60 | 610 | 66 | 653 | 126 |
Emmanuel Sanders, Den. | 79 | 1032 | 47 | 555 | 126 |
Odell Beckham, NYG | 101 | 1367 | 25 | 302 | 126 |
Mike Wallace, Balt. | 72 | 1017 | 52 | 748 | 124 |
Sterling Shepard, NYG | 65 | 683 | 59 | 731 | 124 |
Dez Bryant, Dall. | 50 | 796 | 69 | 838 | 119 |
Marqise Lee, Jac. | 63 | 851 | 56 | 702 | 119 |
Pierre Garcon, S.F. | 79 | 1041 | 40 | 500 | 119 |
Rishard Matthews, Tenn. | 65 | 945 | 53 | 795 | 118 |
Tyreek Hill, K.C. | 42 | 370 | 75 | 1183 | 117 |
Marvin Jones, Det. | 55 | 930 | 61 | 1101 | 116 |
Adam Humphries, T.B. | 55 | 622 | 61 | 631 | 116 |
Brandon LaFell, Cin. | 64 | 862 | 52 | 548 | 116 |
DeVante Parker, Mia. | 56 | 744 | 57 | 670 | 113 |
Tyrell Williams, LAC | 69 | 1059 | 43 | 728 | 112 |
Kelvin Benjamin, Buf.-Car. | 63 | 941 | 48 | 692 | 111 |
Cole Beasley, Dall. | 75 | 833 | 36 | 314 | 111 |
Keenan Allen, LAC | 6 | 63 | 102 | 1393 | 108 |
Alshon Jeffery, Phil. | 52 | 821 | 56 | 781 | 108 |
Ted Ginn, N.O. | 54 | 752 | 53 | 787 | 107 |
Jermaine Kearse, NYJ | 41 | 510 | 65 | 810 | 106 |
DeSean Jackson, T.B. | 56 | 1005 | 50 | 668 | 106 |
Robert Woods, LAR | 49 | 579 | 56 | 781 | 105 |
Robby Anderson, NYJ | 40 | 553 | 63 | 941 | 103 |
Kenny Stills, Mia. | 42 | 726 | 58 | 847 | 100 |
Crowder is still a far cry from the likes of Antonio Brown and DeAndre Hopkins. But he looks like a nice target in the middle rounds.
--Andy Richardson