Changing Of The Guard: Joey Harrington???

It's official. Joey Harrington has his own team again! The question is...what will/can he do with this team and how does it impact his fantasy worth.


In order to set his value on your draft board, you have to do two things. One, disregard the Miami Dolphin/Detroit Lions Joey Harrington, and two, look at Atlanta's team as a whole (both offense and defense).


Let me start by saying, NO!, Joey Harrington should NOT be your fantasy starter at the quarterback position, however, I think after careful review, he can be a great addition as you back-up if the usual suspects aren't available. It is one thing to secure a "solid" back-up quarterback, yet something completely different to "reach" for one.


I am under the firm belief that back-up quarterbacks have tremendous fantasy impact on your football team, however, if they aren't there where you need them to be...skip'em, there will be more where they come from... (Leftwich, Pennington, Schaub, etc...)


Atlanta Falcons:

First, the offense. The offensive line is ranked approximately 23rd in the league, however, that number is based upon a roving, inconsistent, and sporadic play of one Michael Vick (no, I will not go into the details of his court proceedings). With a fairly mobile, pocket passer, I believe that they should be ranked near 12-15, somewhere between the 49ers and the Steelers. The running back situation looks new/fresh so it is hard to predict, but Jarius Norwood looks like he is ready to take over the shoes of Dunn. Dunn will be there in a perfuctionary role, taking snaps from Norwood as the season progresses (diminishing the overall value of Norwood come draft day). The wide receiver corp. has been working harder than ever because they know they have a better shot at touches now that Michael Vick is out of the picture. Joe Horn is a needed, veteran presence that will lift there level of play overall, with Michael Jenkins and Roddy White growing as the season progresses. Alge Crumpler will receive a steady diet of second and short slant routes and third and long post routes along the seems also. (Solid No. 4 Tight End overall).



Defense. The team is solid. They are fast, young, talented, yet still a little reckless. As long as health is not an issue, primarily at their front seven, freeing up the young defensive backs to make the plays that they have been drafted for (DeAngelo Hall, Chris Houston, Jimmy Williams), they have a chance to keep the offense on the field. They too
(the backfield) have an experienced veteran, Lawyer Milloy, to learn from. The typical ranking for their defense is 23rd also, but again, I believe it to be inaccurate as it is based primarily on last years showing (health, experience). I think they are a top 15 defense and will show it with grit, determination, speed, and raw pain with powerful blows that will wear down offenses.



Atlanta will not make the playoffs, but to say that Harrington will find the same fate at Atlanta that he found in Miami and Detriot will be in error. When all is said and done, Harrington will be statistically and fantasy point-wise, far superior to the likes of Schaub, Culpepper, Green, Frye, Losman, Delhomme, and even Favre based simply on the fact that he manufactures drives, is consistent with the ball (delivers with amazing accuracy) and you will find that by week 6, most people will drop their drafted back-up quarterback and select Joey off the waiver-wire. It may occur two or three times, but you will find at least a 65% roster rate throughout all the major fantasy sites (ESPN, NFL, Yahoo, CBSSportsline, Sandbox).



Do I think that you should pick him up on draft day....only if you need a back-up quarterback and you have waited till the 13-15th round and need someone to fill in for a bye week.



Statistocrat

">