Percy Harvin is going under the knife Thursday in New York, Dr. Bryan Kelly is doing the honors. Recovery time for the surgery is typically around 16 weeks, which means Harvin could play at some point in 2013. Honestly, unless you're in a return yardage league I think Harvin was being way over valued, but I won't go into those details here. Let's talk about what you need to do to replace Harvin in your fantasy football league. Regardless if you have Harvin in one of you early draft leagues or if you had him notched into your cheat sheet for an up-coming draft, here's what you need to do.
If You Already Owned Harvin
If you already drafted Harvin I'd drop him on Thursday when the surgery is actually finalized. From there you can trade him (premium members get trade advice in the forum) or you can hit the waiver wire. Here's some waiver wire picks:
- Alshon Jeffery might be available in your league and could post solid fantasy numbers in Marc Trestman's offense. Jeffery has elite physical skills and will prey on lower tier DB's while Marshall soaks up the double teams.
- Rod Streater could emerge as a consitent PPR option. Matt Flynn 's noddle arm isn't going deep, it's going to be looking for Streater often.
- Vincent Brown might be on you waiver wire, if so he could post WR1 numbers in PPR leagues. He's gotten rave reviews in training camp and don't forget since the Chargers are installing a more precise offense, Brown could beat out Malcom Floyd for the starting Z receiver spot.
- Rueben Randle has been on fire in camp and he did great in spot duty last year. He's going to have value as the Giants' No. 3 receiver and when Nicks misses time Randle will be a solid weekly fantasy starter.
- Aaron Dobson could become a starter in NE. Add him to our personal agent (premium members) and get updates on his progress in camp. Any starter in NE is worth a stab in the draft / waiver wire.
- Darrius Heyward-Bey is running with the 1's and is an early camp favorite to win the starting job opposite Reggie Wayne.
- Dexter McCluster (see below)
Harvin's Viable Replacement Draft Options
- Dexter McCluster is pretty much being looked over in the draft so you can steal him very late. Chiefs OC Doug Pederson has stated several times McCluster is going to have a significant offensive role. He's also going to handle punt returns.
- Antonio Brown's ADP has him going around the 4th or 5th round and I believe he will post top 10 numbers this year. Last season, Antonio Brown dropped just 2.9 percent of his targets. Last season, Brown averaged just more than eight targets per game. -- (source) -- With Mike Wallace gone the sky is the limit for Brown.
- James Jones is a freaking stud, why people were drafting Percy Harvin ahead of him is beyond me.
At this point mark Harvin off your draft board, if you own him then hold him until his surgery actually takes place Thursday. If you have a deep bench you could always hold Harvin on your roster, apparently Ian Rapoport is saying the Seahawks anticipate him retuning in week 13.
#Seahawks hope to have Harvin back by Thanksgiving… but they have a bye that week. Puts spotlight on Dec. 2 MNF vs. #Saints for his return.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 31, 2013
