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Spotlight - WR Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts

Posted on 7/13, exclusive to Footballguys.com

Colin Dowling's Thoughts

There are only a few things certain in life: death, taxes, the Pac-10 will beat the Big 10 in the Rose Bowl, and Marvin Harrison will be on the receiving end of dozens and dozens and dozens of Peyton Manning passes.  In an odd instance, it seems almost as if we have gotten spoiled by Marvin Harrison's consistency, taking his amazing run for granted.  Every year seems to mirror the previous: Harrison as a top-tier performer relative to his peers, playing in every game, justifying the use of a high selection on a wide receiver.

Do you realize that Marvin Harrison has scored double-digit touchdowns in every season this century? In an "off" year, he had a mere 10 touchdowns.  Eight straight seasons of double-digit touchdowns isn't just phenomenal, it is unparalleled at present.  For comparison's sake: Chad Johnson (1), Steve Smith (1), Larry Fitzgerald (1), Anquan Boldin (0), and Plaxico Burress (1) have combined for four 10+ touchdown seasons in their entire careers.  Harrison has done it eight seasons in a row.

The best part about Marvin Harrison is that his act is so routine, so expected, that his average draft position continues to drop ever so slightly year after year.  This season, he can be selected after a handful of other receivers are off the board.  The easy argument to make is that the development of Reggie Wayne as a go-to receiver and Peyton Manning's distribution of the ball will limit Harrison from repeating his ridiculous 2002 season when he had 143 receptions and 1722 yards.  The best response to that argument is "so what?" 

Harrison has missed a total of 6 games in 11 years and even though he'll be 35 by the first week of the season, he shows no sign of slowing down.  Even with Reggie Wayne across the field, even with Joe Addai catching more passes, even with Peyton Manning trying to make sure everyone on the roster catches a few balls, Marvin Harrison is STILL a mortal lock to have around 90 receptions, 1200 yards, and a dozen touchdowns. 

Positives

• Long history of high-level production
• Is one of the top-two receiving options for the most productive quarterback in the league
• Working with the same quarterback, same offensive line, same playbook, same coaches, and same teammates
• Avoids lots of contact and rarely, if ever, misses time on the field

Negatives

• Emergence of Reggie Wayne may limit the upside potential of Harrison
• Getting to an age where a decline in production should start to occur
• Still draws coverage from the opposition's top defensive back

Final Thoughts

There is no more certain thing in football, year in and year out, then the notion that Marvin Harrison will be a top-flight receiver and valuable member of any fantasy team. Pass on him for someone younger and flashier at your own risk.

Quotations from the Message Board Thread

rzrback77:
Future Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison enters his 12th season, all with the Indianapolis Colts. He is also in his 10th season teamed with Peyton Manning. He is a former first round selection and he has been a model of consistency. In eight of his eleven years, he has played in all sixteen games, two others fifteen games. His worse year was in 1998 when he missed four games and finished as the 31st WR. In his most recent eight seasons, he has finished all in the top ten and in seven of the eight, in the top five.

His receiving yardage had been slipping a little, but it spiked upward again last year as he made 95 catches for 1366 yards (14.4 ypc) and scored twelve TDs. He has scored double digit TDs in an amazing eight straight seasons.

With the loss of one half of last year's RRBC Dom Rhodes, I look for a little extra in the passing game for the Colts this year and you can bet that Marvin Harrison will be open often enough to catch his share.

jurb26:
I don't see Harrison catching 90+ balls this year, or probably again in his career. He will still be the safest WR in FF and lowest risk player in all of FF with #1 potential at his position.

Cajun Heat:
I'll predict 85/1200/11, pretty much on par with his last three seasons. Any other player in the league, I would project some slippage because of his age, but I believe that Marvin has reached Jerry Rice status, where the normal rules simply don't apply.

Marvin Harrison Projections