Posted by travis in 
Vernon Davis was looking to be another ho-hum first round pick for the San Francisco 49ers. After taking the 250+ pound Terrapin standout with the sixth overall pick in the 2006 draft they made him a very wealthy man signing him to a 5 year, $23 million contract which made him the highest paid tight end in the league at that time.
Prior to 2009, it was looking like that was $23 million not well spent. Davis started 8 games his rookie year (playing in ten) and nabbed 20 catches for 265 yards and 3 touchdowns. Most rookies do not come out of the gate posting big numbers though. An injury held him out of 2 games in 2007, but he started the remaining 14 grabbing 52 catches for just over 500 yards and 4 touchdowns. In his first full year as a starter in 2008 it looked as if the former first rounder might be a dud; his reception number was cut almost in half falling to 31 with his yardage and touchdown numbers also dropping off sharply (358, 2).
With the much publicized locker room banishment by Coach Mike Singletary for lackluster play in Singletary’s coaching debut last October the writing appeared to be on the wall. Singletary made it clear what he thought of Davis by sending him to the showers ten minutes early and then calling him out during the post game press conference. After three frustrating seasons the 49ers appeared to be done with Vernon Davis.
Between the times he was called out by his new head coach and the beginning of the 2009 season something clicked inside Davis turning him into a completely different player. The change was so impressive in Davis that his teammates made him a captain for the 2009 season. Davis has responded with one of the best receiving years for a 49er in years.
His stats through week 13 are as follows:
Recpt Yds TD
Davis, Vernon SF 63 781 10
Davis is the first 49er since Brandon Lloyd in 2005 to record three 100+yard games in a season. His ten touchdown receptions lead the league for tight ends. Larry Fitzgerald is the only other player with 10 touchdown receptions so far this season.
Typically, the tight end is not the position that wins it for fantasy football teams. However, if you were lucky enough to pick up Vernon Davis you just might have an edge going into the fantasy playoffs.
