Mario Manningham

In his first 12 games with the 49ers, Manningham was a bit player with only 57 targets and one touchdown. Then he tore his ACL and PCL. Assuming Manningham can return at full speed, he has a chance for a bigger role this year now that Michael Crabtree is out with an Achilles' tear. At 6-0, 185, Manningham is shifty and explosive in open space and dangerous after the catch and down the field. He's slightly built, however, and not suited for going over the middle or catching balls in traffic. Mannigham won't be ready for the start of training camp, but there's a chance he could suit up for Week 1, or shortly thereafter. If that happens, he'll vie for the starting job opposite Anquan Boldin with second-year man A.J. Jenkins and rookie Quinton Patton.

After a highly efficient breakout season in 2010 (10.3 YPT), Manningham fell off the map last year with a meager 6.8 YPT, despite playing in one of the league’s best passing games. That said, a knee injury cost him four games and likely limited him in several more, and, in any event, the poor regular season was largely erased by one of the greatest and most clutch Super Bowl catches of all time. At 6-0, 185, Manningham is slightly built, but very shifty and explosive in open space and has enough speed to beat defenders down the field. Manningham’s focus comes and goes at times, but when he’s on, he’s a dangerous playmaker on the outside. The Giants let Manningham leave as a free agent, and the 49ers swooped him up in March, signing him to a two-year deal with $4.74 million guaranteed. That’s not enough money to guarantee him significant targets in a suddenly crowded receiving corps (Michael Crabtree, Randy Moss, A.J. Jenkins) on a run-first team that also features an elite pass-catching tight end in Vernon Davis. But Jenkins is a rookie, Moss is a wild card and Crabtree’s been a disappointment so far, so there’s opportunity here if Manningham seizes it.

Injuries to Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks down the stretch gave Manningham a bigger opportunity, and he showed his explosive ability with 15.7 yards per catch and 10.3 yards per target (behind only DeSean Jackson and Mike Wallace among 90-target wideouts). At 6-1, 181, Manningham is tall and skinny, with electrifying moves in the open field and a dangerous playmaker with the ball in his hands. He can beat defenses deep, or take a screen pass, slip a tackle and go to the house. He's not physical and isn't going to see much work in the red zone (just 11 targets), but like a poor-man's DeSean Jackson he can make much of his living from deep (19 catches of 20-plus). Like his teammate Hakeem Nicks, Manningham has had his share of mental lapses, but overall, he's one of the league's best No. 3 receivers and should be heading into his prime in his fourth season.

Manningham proved last year that he’s a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands. But his mental lapses and poor focus — along with the emergence of Hakeem Nicks — cost him his starting job midway through the season. At 6-1, 181, Manningham is thin and slightly built, but he has electrifying moves in the open field and the long speed to go the distance on any play. Despite his seven drops (tied for 16th), he managed a very respectable 8.3 yards per target, had two catches of 40 yards or more and scored five touchdowns. Manningham’s not suited to operating between the hash marks, and only eight of his 99 targets came in the red zone all year. At press time, Manningham slots in as the third receiver, and assuming he renews his focus, should have a significant role in the team’s offense again this year.

With the Giants wide receiver position in flux, Manningham has a chance to carve out a significant role with a good camp. While he didn't get much of an opportunity last season, he returns with a year of experience in the system and in the league. Manningham's got the vertical game the Giants are looking for to be Plaxico Burress' replacement, but he'll need to show good discipline and understanding of the offense to supplant Domenik Hixon and hold off Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden.

Rookie wideout slipped in the draft due to character issues, but Manningham's got speed and playmaking ability. He's not likely to see many targets this season, barring an injury to Plaxico Burress, but the Giants got a high upside player in the third round.