There were many reasons why my preseason WR rankings listed Percy Harvin at #40, despite most experts ranking him much better (ESPN: 19th / Yahoo Sports: 20th). I was concerned about injury risks, usage on a Seattle team that likely could win without him; and the potential for a more run-heavy offensive scheme.
He's currently tied for 67th among WRs in standard scoring leagues. However, his trade last night to the Jets should have a slight ripple effect on his and other teammates' values.
(1) Harvin should get a bump as the co-featured receiver in the Jets' anemic offense. They'll continue to play from behind most weeks, meaning Harvin's targets should increase in his new surroundings. He might not come close to being the breakout wideout we saw in the latter half of the 2011 season (50 catches for 581 yards and 6 TDs in 7 contests), but he should be a legit WR3+ most weeks.
(2) Eric Decker probably will retain his current value. Harvin might take some red zone targets formerly reserved for Decker, but a slightly improved offense should increase the Jets' scoring opportunities. Remember, this is a team that kept getting stymied inside New England territory Thursday night. A potential chain-mover like Harvin would mean more Geno Smith passes, translating to a continued healthy dose of Decker targets.
(3) Any chances Jeremy Kerley had to become a streaming fantasy WR this year are likely over. With only one notable game under his belt nearing the season's halfway point, there is no reason to hold onto Kerley in even the deepest (16-team, 16 players per roster) league.
(4) Jace Amaro is one of the NFL's promising young TEs whose yardage totals should continue to increase. But in fantasy leagues that weight TDs more heavily, we shouldn't expect more than 3 or 4 scores throughout the season, as he's now the 4th or 5th option in the red zone.
(5) Geno Smith gets a bump because of Harvin's playmaking ability. The 26th ranked fantasy QB entering Week 7, Smith becomes a viable top 20 option, making him a frequently useful starter in 2-QB leagues. And keep an eye on the fantasy playoffs: in week 14-17, he plays four beatable defenses: Tennessee, Minnesota, New England, and Miami.
As for Seattle, expect a slight bump for Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, and Ricardo Lockette, each of whom is now positioned for another 1-3 targets each week and potentially an extra TD on the season. Meanwhile, Russell Wilson should see no material impact.
And if you play in leagues that reward kick return yardage/TDs, keep an eye on who takes over the Seahawks' return duties. Baldwin and Bryan Walters are both listed atop the depth chart.
He's currently tied for 67th among WRs in standard scoring leagues. However, his trade last night to the Jets should have a slight ripple effect on his and other teammates' values.
(1) Harvin should get a bump as the co-featured receiver in the Jets' anemic offense. They'll continue to play from behind most weeks, meaning Harvin's targets should increase in his new surroundings. He might not come close to being the breakout wideout we saw in the latter half of the 2011 season (50 catches for 581 yards and 6 TDs in 7 contests), but he should be a legit WR3+ most weeks.
(2) Eric Decker probably will retain his current value. Harvin might take some red zone targets formerly reserved for Decker, but a slightly improved offense should increase the Jets' scoring opportunities. Remember, this is a team that kept getting stymied inside New England territory Thursday night. A potential chain-mover like Harvin would mean more Geno Smith passes, translating to a continued healthy dose of Decker targets.
(3) Any chances Jeremy Kerley had to become a streaming fantasy WR this year are likely over. With only one notable game under his belt nearing the season's halfway point, there is no reason to hold onto Kerley in even the deepest (16-team, 16 players per roster) league.
(4) Jace Amaro is one of the NFL's promising young TEs whose yardage totals should continue to increase. But in fantasy leagues that weight TDs more heavily, we shouldn't expect more than 3 or 4 scores throughout the season, as he's now the 4th or 5th option in the red zone.
(5) Geno Smith gets a bump because of Harvin's playmaking ability. The 26th ranked fantasy QB entering Week 7, Smith becomes a viable top 20 option, making him a frequently useful starter in 2-QB leagues. And keep an eye on the fantasy playoffs: in week 14-17, he plays four beatable defenses: Tennessee, Minnesota, New England, and Miami.
As for Seattle, expect a slight bump for Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, and Ricardo Lockette, each of whom is now positioned for another 1-3 targets each week and potentially an extra TD on the season. Meanwhile, Russell Wilson should see no material impact.
And if you play in leagues that reward kick return yardage/TDs, keep an eye on who takes over the Seahawks' return duties. Baldwin and Bryan Walters are both listed atop the depth chart.