News: 49ers GM Trent Baalke told reporters Thursday rookie receiver A.J. Jenkins didn't play very much in 2012 because he didn't know the offense. He had one target in three games where he was active. "He's a young guy that came out of a college system that's taken a while to grasp to the pro system," Baalke said. "It's not a work ethic issue, it's not a skill set issue. It's learning the craft at the pro level. And that's a position historically that some have adapted to more quickly than others."
Analysis: Baalke added he expects Jenkins to make a big jump in 2013. Jenkins himself has vowed to be a "totally different player." Once he shows that he's in great shape and able to handle the rigors of the offense he'll have a chance to be a contributor for Fantasy. Until then he shouldn't be on a roster.
News: Niners first-round pick A.J. Jenkins, who coach Jim Harbaugh got behind in late July when he told experts to not label him a bust, turned out to be exactly that in 2012. Showing up to training camp out of shape and never really getting much of a chance to play, Jenkins finished his rookie year with zero catches. Speaking after the team's loss in Super Bowl XLVII, Jenkins told the Sacramento Bee he's going to turn things around and become "a totally different player." "Obviously, I want to contribute a lot more than I have been," said Jenkins, who plans to work with Colin Kaepernick this offseason. "So I'm going to make that happen and come back bigger, faster, stronger."
Analysis: After being selected in the first round of last April's draft, Jenkins was active for only three games during the regular season and had one target all year. Once he shows that he's in great shape and able to handle the rigors of the offense he'll have a chance to be a contributor for Fantasy. Until then he shouldn't be on a roster.
News: With Mario Manningham out with a knee injury, 49ers wide receiver A.J. Jenkins earned additional playing time for San Francisco during the season finale against Arizona. Unfortunately, he failed to record a catch while being targeted only once -- his first look of the season -- during the 49ers' 27-13 victory. Michael Crabtree paced the team's receivers with eight catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns.
Analysis: After being selected in the first round of last April's draft, Jenkins was active for only three games during the regular season and went without a reception. Despite Manningham being sidelined, the 23-year-old still has to contend with several other 49ers players for targets in the passing game. He is currently not on quarterback Colin Kaepernick immediate list of targets and should be ignored in Fantasy drafts for 2013.
News: 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh blasted reports and NFL analysts who believe the team's first-round pick, A.J. Jenkins, will be a bust. Citing that his conditioning is now "tip-top," Harbaugh has been pleased with Jenkins' attitude and workouts through the start of camp. "Jenkins was an outstanding football player when he got here. His progress has been very, very good and exceeded expectations," Harbaugh said Sunday. "For those scribes, pundits, so called experts, who have gone as far to say that he is going to be a bust, should just stop. I recommend that because they are making themselves look more clueless than they’ve already did."
Analysis: Jenkins reportedly was out of shape at 49ers OTAs and was a surprise pick by the team at 30th overall in April's draft. Playing time isn't expected to be plentiful for Jenkins but a good preseason could change that. Moreover, now that Harbaugh has pretty much blasted the media for calling his prized rookie a bust, we might expect Harbaugh to make a push to get Jenkins on the field so he can prove his doubters wrong. That could be tough with Randy Moss, Michael Crabtree and Mario Manningham on the roster. For now Jenkins isn't worth drafting in seasonal leagues. He's worth a late pick in the deepest of seasonal leagues and in dynasty/keeper leagues and an early- to middle-round choice in rookie-only drafts.
News: The San Jose Mercury News reports that 49ers rookie receiver A.J. Jenkins is ready for training camp after a rough debut at a rookie minicamp. "I've made long strides," Jenkins said. "Obviously, I had criticism when I first came in as far as being in shape. That's irrelevant now. I'm just trying to help the team win, whether that's playing special teams, offense or being a real good teammate." Jenkins took part throughout a "pretty intense" offseason workout program and signed his four-year, $6.95 million contract last month. "My mindset has really been a lot stronger since the first day of rookie minicamp," Jenkins said. "From this day forward, all the way into January or February, it's going to be a long season, and my mind is ready for it."
Analysis: Jenkins has a long way to go before Fantasy owners can count on him. Don't expect a ton of playing time early for Jenkins, especially with the likes of Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham and Randy Moss on the roster. He's worth a late pick in the deepest of seasonal leagues and in dynasty/keeper leagues and an early- to middle-round choice in rookie-only drafts.
News: The Sacramento Bee reports that 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh was full of praise for first-round pick A.J. Jenkins. "Very gung-ho. Very fast, fast, fast. He's got excellent hands," Harbaugh said. "He's got the ability to get in and out of cuts with his foot speed. And the turnover, he doesn't get stuck in routes. He doesn't get stuck at the top of the routes. He's able to get out of those cuts. And he's right on track. A.J. Jenkins is going to be just fine." The report says that "the truth, however, is that Jenkins had a rough spring. He had a hard time staying on his feet, fighting for position and often - very often -- was on the ground after the play. And this was in non-contact practices."
Analysis: Jenkins has a long way to go before Fantasy owners can count on him. Don't expect a ton of playing time early for Jenkins, especially with the likes of Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham and Randy Moss on the roster. He's worth a late pick in the deepest of seasonal leagues and in dynasty/keeper leagues and an early- to middle-round choice in rookie-only drafts.
News: Multiple outlets that cover the 49ers noticed that rookie wide receiver A.J. Jenkins wasn't in good shape during the team's recent minicamp. And they weren't the only ones to notice -- head coach Jim Harbaugh saw it too. "Out of shape, that's the bad news," Harbaugh said about Jenkins and other rookie receivers according to the San Jose Mercury-News. "Good news is that it's a very talented group of those young receivers, could tell that right away. Bad news is that we've got to get them in shape. Don't know exactly what all these guys were doing for the last six months."
Analysis: Jenkins is reportedly going to train with Jerry Rice on his infamous hill soon, and that should kick-start his training regimen and get him ready for camp. Jenkins clearly can get into shape as evidenced by his senior year at Illinois where he caught a Big Ten-best 84 receptions for 1,196 yards and seven scores. Don't expect a ton of playing time early for Jenkins, especially with the likes of Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham and Randy Moss on the roster. He's worth a late pick in the deepest of seasonal leagues and in dynasty/keeper leagues and an early- to middle-round choice in rookie-only drafts.
News: The 49ers selected Illinois wide receiver A.J. Jenkins with their first-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Considered a solid, balanced receiver, Jenkins saw action for four years for the Illini but didn't get cooking until his junior year in 2010 when he finished as the team's leading receiver with 56 catches for 749 yards and seven scores. However, he really emerged in 2011 as a senior, posting team-highs in every receiving category, including a Big Ten-best 84 receptions for 1,196 yards and seven scores.
Analysis: Jenkins isn't a burner or consistent vertical threat, but he plays fast and confident. He is more quick than fast and covers a lot of ground in the short half of the field and can run after the catch. He has a lanky frame and could get pushed around but should be OK on underneath routes. He's a raw, project-type player for sure, but if Jim Harbaugh pulled the trigger on him, there's a reason for it. Don't expect a ton of playing time early for Jenkins, especially with the likes of Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham and Randy Moss on the roster. He's worth a late pick in the deepest of seasonal leagues and in dynasty/keeper leagues and an early- to middle-round choice in rookie-only drafts.
