The San Francisco 49ers have been planning for this moment: a star player to go down with an injury. They weren’t expecting it, but they were ready for it, and not many teams can say that. The 49ers have prepared for Michael Crabtree, or another major piece of the offense, to go down with a major injury over the last couple of years by drafting solid depth on the offensive side of the ball, especially in their running back and wide receiver departments. Now it’s going to pay off.

After Crabtree tore his Achilles earlier this week, which will cause him to miss most – if not all – of the 2013 season, they’ve got a back-up plan. In fact, they’ve got (*LeBron voice*) not one, not two, not three, not four … okay; they have a lot of back-up plans. Here are the names you’ve heard who could replace Crabtree’s role on the 49ers offense, with some details on each.

•  Anquan Boldin - From the Baltimore Ravens to San Francisco, Boldin is turning 33-years-old this year, and doesn’t have the speed he once did. But his hands can usually make up for it. 
•  Quinton Patton – 2012 fourth-round rookie out of Louisiana Tech. 6-foot-2-inches and 195 lbs. Great speed and has already impressed the coaches with his work ethic.
•  A.J. Jenkins - Drafted in the first-round in 2012, Jenkins has been looked down on as a bust. However, now he will get his shot. He’s been working with Colin Kaepernick in Atlanta throughout the offseason.
•  Mario Manningham - Will miss camp after tearing his ACL late in the regular season, could land on the Physically Unable to Perform list, requiring him to miss the first six games of 2012.

A few names you probably haven’t heard in NFL circles that are also currently on the 49ers 90-man roster include Chad Hall, Ricardo Lockette, Kyle Williams, and Marlon Moore. Williams’ value takes a big after his ACL tear in 2012, although he has made some impact in the past with this team. Hall is used primarily as a punt returner, and at 5’8” he certainly will not make an impact in Crabtree’s role. Moore is a camp body who the Dolphins declined to use a tender one after he spent three seasons with the team. He doesn't have much of a chance to make the team.

That leaves one name who could make an impact in that group: Lockette. The speedy Division III track star from Fort Valley State started his career as an undrafted free agent with the Seattle Seahawks. He played in Seattle until he was cut during final roster cuts before the 2012 season. He was signed by the 49ers in September of 2012 and spent most of the season on the practice squad. He’s only caught two passes in his career, one of which was an incredible juggling catch to force overtime.

Lockette has only spent eight months with the team, but he has already built a strong rapport with Kaepernick. Lockette was among a small group of wide receivers that spent two months working with Kaepernick in Atlanta during the offseason. This training commenced almost immediately after the Super Bowl loss to the Ravens. Kaepernick and Lockette are also roommates. Kaepernick has tutored Lockette to help him better understand the 49ers offense by simplifying it.

The Mercury News called Lockette “the most intriguing candidate to step up” after losing Crabtree, and named him Kaepernick’s “closest confident”. Head coach Jim Harbaugh is also excited about Lockette, saying, “There’s just something about him that I’m really fired up about. He’s got something else to him, too, beside just the analytical size, strength, speed.” While on scout team last season, Lockette impressed offensive coordinator Greg Roman enough for him to comment on his performance: “The big man, he can run and catch, and he does a great job of pushing it vertical.”

Speaking of Lockette’s vertical threat, how will that threat fit into this offense? It’s well known that the 49ers need a legit speedster to stretch the field and open things up for Kaepernick. But will it translate into numbers for Lockette? Presumably, Lockette will bring only that dimension – stretching the field – to this offense.  So what can Kaepernick on deep passes?

In 2012, Kaepernick went 25/49 with 779 yards, five touchdowns and only one interception throwing 20 yards or more downfield including the playoffs, per ProFootballFocus.com (PFF). His accuracy percentage was 60.6 percent throwing to this area of the field. In the five years that PFF has kept the deep throws accuracy percentage, only one quarterback, Aaron Rodgers in 2011 with 60.7 percent, has been more successful. He was the seventh quarterback in highest percentage throws travelling 20 or more yards down the field (15.1 percent). Although it was a smaller sample size (eight games) than the other quarterbacks, it’s clear that Kaepernick is comfortable throwing downfield and has a strong, accurate arm.

All the pieces are in place for Lockette to have a successful year and ignite his career. However, there are four others in front of him who appear to have a much better opportunity at playing time with Crabtree sidelined. Regardless, with the kind of unique skillset that Lockette brings to a team, he’s a name that should be in the back of your mind in deep dynasty leagues as a possible sleeper. He’s a football player with his head on straight and a great opportunity, and if he’s given the green light, he’s going to run with it.