We jumped the shark on this one. Fantasy managers fell hard for the name and the college tape, and Marvin Harrison Jr. still hasn’t turned that pedigree into a finished product. The opportunity is still there, though, and so are the physical tools, and adjusting to the pro game is still very much in front of him rather than behind him.
Coming off draft boards after the fifth round now, the question is whether this is finally the time to buy.
Should You Draft Marvin Harrison Jr. in Fantasy Football?
Harrison managed just two top-12 weeks last season, but he also posted six top-24 finishes, a number I think most managers would underestimate. He fell well short of our expectations, but it wasn’t as if he was without his moments.
The offensive environment gives this profile some real teeth. Arizona led the league in pass rate last season at 69.4%, and it wasn’t particularly close. Cincinnati was second at 65.1%, and the league average sat at 59.2%. That’s the kind of pass-funnel offense that keeps a WR1 relevant even through a rough individual season.
The Jeremiyah Love addition complicates the picture, but not in the way it looks at first glance. Yes, it likely means fewer total pass attempts for this offense. Not ideal. But I think it raises the quality of Harrison’s looks more than it hurts the quantity, and that trade makes him a reasonable pick at his suppressed ADP.
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Personally, I’m buying because I think you can insulate a roster around this specific risk. The quarterback situation is the piece that still needs watching. Jacoby Brissett wasn’t thrilled with how the franchise viewed him this summer, and Carson Beck is a good bet to see the field at some point this season.
Arizona goes on bye in Week 14, and if this looks like a lost season by then, there’s a path to the rookie getting run behind center for a stretch that sets up nicely against the Jets, Saints, and Raiders. That risk deserves real weight before you draft him, but it doesn’t have to be disqualifying.
Harrison’s Dynasty Fantasy Football Value
The pedigree hasn’t gone anywhere, but the questions about the ceiling are legitimate now. It’s not only that he didn’t perform in Year 1. It’s that nobody knows what the quarterback position in Arizona looks like beyond this year, and Trey McBride is locked in as a target hog who’s going to keep soaking up premium usage regardless of who’s throwing the ball.
Buying in now takes a leap of faith. The raw ability is there, and we don’t always get a chance to add such a player who the industry as a whole is souring on.
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Take advantage now with the thought that perception has reached rock bottom.
I’m always drawn to a distressed asset when I believe the skill level is still there to perform at a high level. My advice is to check in with the Harrison manager in your dynasty league. A move may not be there to be made, but if his value has dropped as much as the outside noise suggests, take the discount and make the offer. Your window to get exposure at this cost may not last long.
