August 18, 2017

Highlighted Year: Roger Craig, 1985

Fullback, San Francisco 49ers


Age: 25
3rd season in pro football & with 49ers
College: Nebraska
Height: 6’0”    Weight: 222

Prelude:
Chosen by the 49ers in the second round of the 1983 NFL draft to address the unsettled situation at running back, and better known in college for his blocking ability, Craig teamed at fullback with veteran acquisition RB Wendell Tyler and gained 1152 yards from scrimmage (725 rushing, 427 receiving).

1985 Season Summary
Appeared in all 16 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing
Attempts – 214 [19]
Most attempts, game – 22 (for 117 yds.) at Denver 11/11
Yards – 1050 [13]
Most yards, game – 117 yards (on 22 carries) at Denver 11/11
Average gain – 4.9 [6]
TDs – 9 [8, tied with Walter Payton & Larry Kinnebrew]
100-yard rushing games – 2

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 92 [1] 
Most receptions, game – 12 (for 167 yds.) at Atlanta 10/6
Yards – 1016 [11]
Most yards, game – 167 (on 12 catches) at Atlanta 10/6
Average gain – 11.0
TDs – 6 [20, tied with eight others]
100-yard receiving games – 2

Total Yards – 2066 [3, 1st in NFC]

Scoring
TDs – 15 [2, tied with Louis Lipps]
Points – 90

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Wild Card playoff at NY Giants)
Rushing attempts – 9
Rushing yards – 23
Average gain rushing – 2.6
Rushing TDs – 0

Pass receptions – 2
Pass receiving yards – 18
Average yards per reception – 9.0
Pass Receiving TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:
2nd team All-NFL: AP, NEA
2nd team All-NFC: UPI
Pro Bowl

49ers went 10-6 to finish second in the NFC West and qualify for the postseason as a wild card entry, while leading the conference in total yards (5920) and touchdowns (53). Lost NFC Wild Card playoff to New York Giants (17-3).

 

Aftermath:
Craig split time with HB Joe Cribbs in 1986 but had a second Pro Bowl year in ‘87 as he gained 1307 total yards in the strike-abbreviated season (815 rushing, 492 receiving). Craig received NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors in 1988 while rushing for 1502 yards and catching 76 passes for 534 yards as the 49ers advanced to a Super Bowl victory. He had a fourth Pro Bowl year in 1989, gaining 1054 yards on the ground and 473 through catching passes as the 49ers won another championship, but, after absorbing seven years of punishment as a versatile all-purpose back, his productivity began to drop off thereafter. After one last year with the 49ers in ’90, he moved on to the Raiders and then two final years in Minnesota, never gaining more than 590 yards rushing in any of his last four seasons or catching more than 25 passes. He retired with totals of 8189 rushing yards and 4911 receiving yards on 566 receptions, a total of 13,100 yards from scrimmage.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average