Arizona released Crabtree on Monday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Crabtree appeared in two games for the Cardinals, amassing four catches on five targets for 22 yards over 32 snaps on offense. It seemed the veteran was entrenched in the team's depth chart behind Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk and Damiere Byrd, leaving him little work to produce fantasy value with. Crabtree will now have to find another opportunity elsewhere.
Sep 23, 2019 1:53 PM EST
Crabtree started but played just 19 of 60 offensive snaps in Sunday's 23-17 defeat at Baltimore.
Analysis: The Cardinals trotted out four wide receivers in the starting lineup, but Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk and Damiere Byrd all saw at least 93 percent of the offensive snaps while Crabtree and rookie KeeSean Johnson were relegated to 32 percent apiece. The sparse usage resulted in just two receptions (on three targets) for 13 yards for Crabtree, who was making his debut with the team. Perhaps his workload will increase as he becomes more familiar with coach Kliff Kingsbury's scheme, but the top wideout trio seems entrenched at the moment, hurting Crabtree's fantasy viability.
Sep 16, 2019 12:12 PM EST
Crabtree is active for Sunday's contest at Baltimore, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Analysis: As expected, Crabtree will take the field Week 2 after being a healthy scratch in the regular-season opener. It's unclear if Crabtree will supplant KeeSean Johnson or Damiere Byrd in the wide receiver pecking order, but the veteran appears poised to be the third or fourth option behind Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk.
Sep 15, 2019 8:52 AM EST
Crabtree is expected to play Week 2 in Baltimore, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Analysis: Crabtree signed with the Cardinals on Aug. 21 and landed on the inactive list for Sunday's 27-27 tie with the Lions. Coach Kliff Kingsbury expects the veteran wideout to suit up for the second game of the regular season, facing the team he played for last year. The Cardinals mostly used four-wide sets in their opener, relying on KeeSean Johnson and Damiere Byrd behind top options Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk. It isn't clear if Crabtree will directly replace one of those players or merely be another body in the rotation.
Sep 9, 2019 1:02 PM EST
Crabtree (coach's decision) is listed as inactive Sunday versus the Lions, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Analysis: Although Crabtree joined the Cardinals late in the preseason, he opened the season as the No. 3 WR on the team's unofficial depth chart. With such a listing, he was expected to be a starting wide receiver in Kliff Kingsbury's pro version of the Air Raid, but apparently he doesn't deem the veteran ready for Week 1. With Crabtree out of the lineup, Kyler Murray will target wideouts Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk, Trent Sherfield, KeeSean Johnson, Damiere Byrd and Andy Isabella.
Sep 8, 2019 12:04 PM EST
Crabtree is listed as a starter on the Cardinals' first depth chart for the regular season, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Analysis: This is a good time to point out that depth charts are created by a team's communications/PR department, not the football staff. To that end, coach Kliff Kingsbury said last week that he wasn't sure if Crabtree would be ready for the regular-season opener Sunday against the Lions. The depth chart doesn't give us an answer, but the decision to keep Crabtree on the 53-man roster suggests he'll eventually have a role on offense, considering he's never been a factor on special teams. Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk are the other starting wide receivers on the depth chart, with KeeSean Johnson, Trent Sherfield and Damiere Byrd listed as second-stringers. Rookie second-round pick Andy Isabella checks in at the very bottom.
Sep 4, 2019 7:35 AM EST
Coach Kliff Kingsbury isn't sure if Crabtree will be ready to play Week 1 against the Lions, Kyle Odegard of the Cardinals' official website reports.
Analysis: Crabtree signed with the team last Wednesday and was held out of the final two preseason games. It isn't even clear that he'll have a significant role in the offense if/when he's deemed ready to play.
Aug 30, 2019 9:58 AM EST
Crabtree will not play Saturday against the Vikings, Scott Bordow of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: This shouldn't come as much of a surprise considering Crabtree just signed with the team Wednesday. The Cardinals lack of veteran depth at the position aside from Larry Fitzgerald likely means the soon-to-be 32-year-old should have a spot on the 53-man roster if he can impress during the final few weeks of training camp, but he'll have just one exhibition game to do so with Saturday's latest designation.
Aug 24, 2019 9:39 AM EST
Crabtree signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals on Wednesday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Analysis: Crabtree worked out with Arizona earlier in August, but it took a couple weeks before the two sides reached a deal. The veteran wide receiver had 54 catches for 607 yards and three touchdowns on 100 targets in Baltimore last season.
Aug 21, 2019 9:04 PM EST
Crabtree is nearing agreement on a contract with the Cardinals on Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Crabtree reportedly reached a deal with Arizona earlier in August after working out with the team, but he appears to be closing in on a contract this time around. The 31-year-old caught 54 of 100 targets for 607 yards and three touchdowns with the Ravens last season, but he'll be entering a crowded group of wide receivers with the Cardinals, assuming the deal is finalized.
Aug 21, 2019 8:22 PM EST
Contrary to an earlier report from ProFootballTalk, Crabtree worked out for but did not sign with Arizona, NFL.com reports.
Analysis: It's not clear whether Crabtree remains an option for Arizona or if the two sides have moved on, but for now the veteran receiver remains a free agent.
Aug 6, 2019 3:23 AM EST
The Cardinals signed Crabtree on Monday, Scott Bordow of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Upon his arrival in Arizona, Crabtree will represent the most-experienced outside receiver on the roster by a long shot. Granted, Larry Fitzgerald has no problem working as the X or Z out wide on occasion, but he's served primarily in the slot during the twilight of his career. Working within the Ravens' run-first offense last season, Crabtree managed a 54-607-3 line on 100 targets, the latter of which was the third fewest of his 10-year career. The Cardinals under coach Kliff Kingsbury and rookie QB Kyler Murray are expected to run a high-tempo offense, which by proxy should result in more opportunities for those in the skill positions. However, the wide receiver room is crowded, and all five skill players can be targeted on any given play in the Air Raid, so Crabtree may be hard-pressed to expect triple-digit looks yet again.
Aug 5, 2019 4:19 PM EST
Crabtree remains unsigned, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Crabtree was released by the Ravens in late February after a fifth consecutive season with less than 11.5 yards per catch and 7.0 yards per target. However, he did catch a pair of touchdown passes in the team's lone playoff game, thereby adding to his reputation as a useful red-zone weapon. Even so, the 31-year-old wideout will have a difficult time finding a team that views him as a probable starter. Crabtree may even need to compete for a roster spot, assuming he continues his NFL career. OverTheCap.com estimates his cumulative salary earnings at $62.23 million through 10 professional seasons.
Apr 12, 2019 11:52 AM EST
Crabtree was informed of his release Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Signed to a three-year, $21 million contract last offseason, Crabtree was held to a woeful 6.1 yards per target in 2018, catching 54 passes for 607 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games. Team context in Baltimore may have been part of the problem, but John Brown and Willie Snead both had more yards on fewer targets. Coming off five straight seasons below 7.0 YPT, the 31-year-old wideout may find it difficult to land a surefire starting job. There are very few situations where Crabtree would warrant fantasy consideration beyond a late-round flier.
Feb 25, 2019 11:42 AM EST
Crabtree may be released during the offseason, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Limited to a 54-607-3 receiving line and 6.1 yards per target in the first season of a three-year, $21 million contract, Crabtree isn't likely to make it to Year 2 of his deal. He did have a pair of touchdowns grabs in a playoff loss to the Chargers, but he otherwise disappeared once Lamar Jackson replaced Joe Flacco at quarterback. While the 31-year-old wideout shouldn't have much trouble finding a home for 2019, his days as a lead target are probably numbered. A return to Baltimore likely would require accepting a pay cut.
Jan 22, 2019 12:10 PM EST
Crabtree brought in two of four targets for 38 yards and two touchdowns in the Ravens' 23-17 wild-card loss to the Chargers on Sunday.
Analysis: Crabtree's numbers took a notable hit once Lamar Jackson took over under center during the latter portion of the season, but he reemerged in significant fashion during the Ravens' furious fourth-quarter comeback Sunday. The veteran possession man gained some rare separation down the right sideline on a 31-yard touchdown reception with 6:31 remaining, and he then came back to secure a seven-yard scoring dart from Lamar Jackson with just under two minutes left, bringing Baltimore within six points. Although they'd ultimately fall short in their bid to overtake the Chargers, it was an encouraging finish to the season for Crabtree, who'll look to develop further chemistry with his young quarterback during the coming offseason.
Jan 6, 2019 2:16 PM EST
Crabtree caught 54 of 100 targets for 607 yards and three touchdowns in his first season in Baltimore.
Analysis: Compared to career norms, this was a disappointing campaign for the veteran receiver, especially in terms of touchdowns. Three touchdowns marked Crabtree's lowest total ever in a full season and he was coming off a streak in which he had at least eight scores in three straight years. Some of Crabtree's lack of production can be attributed to Baltimore's shift to a run-first offense under Lamar Jackson in Week 11, but that doesn't fully excuse his 6.1 YPT mark or his 9.1 percent drop rate. Crabtree is one year into a three-year, $21 million contract with $13 million guaranteed, so he'll likely be back with the team in 2019.
Jan 5, 2019 2:33 PM EST
Crabtree caught one pass (four targets) for 20 yards in Saturday's 22-10 win over the Chargers.
Analysis: The only positive that can be said about Crabtree's performance is that at least he didn't go catchless like the week prior. The veteran, along with the rest of Baltimore's starting receiver corp, have seen their fantasy value almost vanish since Lamar Jackson took over as starter. The most you can hope for from Crabtree these days is that he can break free for a big score or see heavy usage around the goal line, neither of which has happened since Week 12 (21 yards and a touchdown). His fortunes are unlikely to change in Week 17's matchup with the Browns.
Dec 22, 2018 11:45 PM EST
Crabtree failed to bring in his only target in the Ravens' 20-12 win over the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Analysis: Crabtree was shut out of the stat sheet altogether for the first time this season, with his blanking particularly ill timed considering it came in the heart of the fantasy postseason. Crabtree had actually shown better chemistry with rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson than fellow wideout John Brown, as he'd notched a trio of grabs in each of the prior three games. He'll look to bounce back from the forgettable outing against the Chargers in a Week 16 Saturday night matchup.
Dec 16, 2018 3:40 PM EST
Crabtree caught three of four targets for 31 yards in Sunday's 27-24 overtime loss to the Chiefs.
Analysis: Crabtree moved the chains a few times with nice catches along the sideline, but he also had an offensive pass interference penalty that stalled a drive in the fourth quarter. He's largely been limited to run blocking since Lamar Jackson (ankle) took over at quarterback, averaging 2.5 catches for 23.8 yards the past four weeks. A friendly Week 15 matchup probably won't make much difference unless Joe Flacco (hip) ends up getting the start.
Dec 10, 2018 7:54 AM EST
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