RADIO
Tennessee Titans interim head coach Mike Mularkey has announced that rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota will start in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints. Mariota has missed the past two games with a sprained MCL.
Through the five games Mariota did play thus far this season, he has completed 103 of his 162 passing attempts for 1239 yards and nine touchdowns. He has also threw five interceptions.
Mariota does have a great matchup in Week 9 against the horrible New Orleans Saints defense. I would rank him as a low-end QB1, but keep in mind he will be without his top wide receiver Kendall Wright and he will be a little rusty from mussing the past two games.
Mariota will have to rely on rookie Dorial Green-Beckham, Justin Hunter and Harry Douglas in the receiving game. He’ll also rely heavily on tight end Delanie Walker, who is a must start TE1 this week.
In other news, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Percy Harvin may be headed to season-ending injured reserve with a knee injury. He hasn’t practiced all week and has already been ruled out for the team’s Week 9 matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
In the five games that Harvin did participate in, he flashed signs of his former greatness. He has 19 receptions for 218 yards and one touchdown.
Harvin has always battled with injuries, so much so that reports indicated he was even contemplating retirement. However, Harvin is only 27-years-old and is still in the prime of his career. When healthy he is one of the biggest and best playmakers in the entire NFL.
Harvin is scheduled to be a free agent following the 2015 season and it’s highly doubtful he’ll return to the Buffalo Bills, especially with Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods stepping up in a big way when given an opportunity.
If signed by the right team, Harvin could still be a great fantasy football contributor. For example, if he landed with Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers he would have an opportunity to be a monster contributor. But of course that all depends on his ability to stay healthy – which he unfortunately hasn’t been able to do very often.
Harvin is droppable in all redraft leagues and if you need a roster space in dynasty leagues, I wouldn’t blame you if you dropped him either. However, if you have the space I think he’s worth holding onto in case he does land in a perfect situation this offseason.
