Michael Crabtree is expected to play for the first time since tearing his Achilles in the spring.

"I'm really ready to play," Crabtree said from his locker Friday. "It's been a long time coming."

"I feel comfortable enough to play," Crabtree added. "I feel great."

Crabtree emerged as a legitimate No. 1 receiver after Colin Kaepernick took over for Alex Smith last season.

At various points over the past year, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick and Robert Griffin III have taken the mantle as the best young quarterback in the NFL.

The viewpoints in the media seem to be largely based on wins and losses.

"I think it is unfair to these guys almost to keep their stock report based on wins and losses or what they did last week," a general manager said recently.

Wilson is only trailing Peyton Manning in passer rating and QBR since Week 8 of last season.

"I think Luck is ahead of the others," the GM said. "Russell will never be able to close the gap on that one. Part of it is, just genetically, he cannot see over the line sometimes. But all these guys have strengths and weaknesses. Kaepernick is still about the same guy from last year, but last year he made big plays running. It naturally becomes an emotional assessment of these guys. All these guys are young. I always laugh when a guy is a year-and-a-half in and we're like, 'Is it time?' Really? You're going to make a change? Everyone will go through a slump." 

Michael Crabtree has been activated by the San Francisco 49ers from the physically unable to perform list.

Crabtree has practiced over the past three weeks and is expected to be in the lineup on Sunday against the St. Louis Rams.

Colin Kaepernick had a strong game against a week Washington Redskins' defense, finding Anquan Boldin for two touchdowns and one for Vernon Davis.

The Washington Redskins will not have Jordan Reed in the lineup on Monday against the San Francisco 49ers due to a concussion.

Reed suffered the concussion in Week 11.

Reed has 45 catches for 499 yards and three touchdowns this season as he has been one of the NFL's most productive tight ends.

Reed was a third round pick in 2013.

The San Francisco 49ers appeared to overachieve on offense during Jim Harbaugh's first two seasons due to impressive creativity and unpredictability.

But opposing defenses have seemingly caught up to Harbaugh and Greg Roman's ingenuity.

"Defenses are doing a great job on us, game-planning for us," Frank Gore said.

The 49ers have one of the more voluminous and complex playbooks in the NFL.

"We've been doing great on the running game, so everybody's going to try to stop the run," Gore said. "That's what's been happening."

Tramaine Brock has agreed to a four-year, $16 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers.

Brock's deal includes $7 million in guaranteed money.

Brock's first start will come on Monday with Tarell Brown injured.

"He's gone from not playing, to being in the nickel, which is a part-time job, to now it's amped up another level that he's in there every play," defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Friday.

With the San Francisco 49ers unable to receive any production out of a No. 2 receiver, their offense has shifted to rely heavily on two backs and two tight ends.

The 49ers are using that formation with more frequency and less success.

The 49ers had a 60.3 percent success rate in 2012 compared to 44.7 percent this season.

Michael Crabtree is expected to return in the near future, which the 49ers expect to open up the offense.

Michael Crabtree has not practiced with the San Francisco 49ers for nearly two weeks and remains on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.

On Thursday, Crabtree worked with a member of the strength and conditioning staff.

Crabtree is coming back from a torn Achilles.

During the San Francisco 49ers' 23-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints last week, Colin Kaepernick threw for just 127 yards on 31 pass attempts with two touchdowns and an interception. 

Kaepernick was recently criticized by Trent Dilfer as being "remedial" after he makes his first read, which is something that actually began last season when he led the 49ers to the Super Bowl. The 49ers' passing attack was primarily focused on the first read in 2012 with the presence of Michael Crabtree and a more effective running game creating opportunities with the first read.

Kaepernick had 33 qualifying plays that showed off his progression on Sunday and on 28 of those he appeared to throw to his first read, with the other five going to his second read.

In Kaepernick's best game this season, Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers, Kaepernick had 40 qualifying plays and threw to his first read 33 times.

When Kaepernick's first read isn't open, he often leaves the pocket too too early and neglects open receivers.

The NFL has fined Ahmad Brooks $16,000 for his hit on Drew Brees in Sunday's game.

Many believed that Brooks' hit on Brees should not have even been a penalty. 

Ray Lewis offered to pay half of Brooks' anticipated fine because he didn't think it was worthy of a penalty.