Randy Moss to 49ers: Fantasy Impact

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Future Hall of Famer Randy Moss has agreed to a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers.

This was a surprising move by the 49ers but coach Harbuagh should have the personality to reign in the historically mercurial Moss.

This is an excellent signing for the 49ers offense which now has two elite deep threats in Vernon Davis and Randy Moss. We are not sure Alex Smith will be able to keep all of his receiving weapons happy, but it is also possible that Moss takes Alex Smith’s game to a level most NFL pundits never thought possible following consecutive disappointing seasons from Smith prior to last years breakout campaign.

Fantasy Impact:

Randy Moss – Moss is a good fit for an offense that desperately needed a legit deep threat to keep opposing defense honest and to allow Vernon Davis more room to operate. Frank Gore and the run game will find more open lanes and Michael Crabtree can shine in the number two role his skill set is more ideally suited for. Moss projects as a WR2 with a flex floor.

Alex Smith – Alex Smith if and when he re-signs is set up for a career year in every statistical category as he has three receivers that should top 1,000 yards receiving on the season in Moss, Davis and Smith. His red-zone arsenal is now among the most dangerous in the league and as long as he can keep Moss happy the 49ers should find themselves back in the playoffs.

Michael Crabtree – Crabtree will get to play number two receiver and focus on the short to intermediate routes he excels at. The deep ball will be reserved for Moss and Davis and this offense just got dynamic in a hurry. Crabtree projects as a flex in standard leagues and a potential WR3 in PPR formats.

Frank Gore/Kendall Hunter – The 49ers run game gets a big boost with news that the box will never be stacked against the run so long as Randy Moss is healthy. This may mean less overall touches for the running backs, but for a player like Gore who has seen stacked boxes most of his career, this presents an opportunity to get closer to his career high ypc in 2006-2007 of 5.4 yards per carry versus the pedestrian 4.3 he put up the last two years.

Vernon Davis: Vernon Davis sees a slight downgrade in fantasy value with Moss in town to eat up targets, especially downfield. With that said Davis is a special talent and will still produce as a TE1 in 2012.

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About Author

Raju Byfield aka Rizzla is fantasy afficicanado. Rizzla founded and has been the lead writer and editor for Win My Fantasy League since its inception and has also contributed to Bleacher Report, FantasyPros and FantasyCPR among others. Rizzla mans our main twitter account @fantasysportdoc and can be also be reached at his personal twitter @fantasycontext. He can also be reached at rizzla@winmyfantasyleague.com

6 Comments

  1. Larry Velasco on

    Now that the 49ers let Manning slip away, I hope he has a bad season and that Alex Smith is going to relocate as well. Then, the perfect thing as far as I am concerned is, having Alex Smith’s new team knock the niners out of the playoffs next season. Turn-about is fair play. Since Eddie’s departure, the forty niners have never been the same. The york’s are a JOKE. Oh a better one yet, the York’s are DORKS. I don’t Want Peyton to be hurt, just beaten fairly.. And, Alex to do great things. ANOTHER system for Alex to learn. He was very easy to work with and now, if I’m him, I wouldn’t even talk to the Forty Niners. At 66 years of age, I’m really tired of sports, except for baseball. No jive crap like basketball, which you can stick or football. I used to get free tickets to the Kings games from my in-laws and they told my daughter, “we didn’t see your dad at the last two games but someone was sitting in his seat”. My daughter, feeling guilty, told them that I hate basketball. So, Let’s get to baseball season. I don’t even listen to KNBR during basketball season. Great Baseball Fan, GO GIANTS and A-s
    Larry Velasco

  2. Blu_Coller_9er on

    As far as im concerned we dont need manning, or smith for that matter. If harbaugh proved anything last year it was that beating a dead horse will get you somewhere. And that exactly what smith is. Let him walk and give Kapernick the reigns. Hes got the talent down the field now (moss and manningham) and the arm to get it there! Unlike smith.. Lets roll through baseball and get back to it!! GO NINERS!

  3. News flash…Smith will sign and play for the Niners and we will go to
    the SB and win it all this year.

  4. Hey Blu,

    I am actually with you on this one and would LOVE to see Kapernick take the reigns

  5. Hey Sai,

    Lets hope you are right

    However, Smith may not be good enough….we will find out this years if he holds on to starting job

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