The Buffalo Bills offense suffered a big blow in Sunday’s 41-14 win over the Miami Dolphins when star receiver Sammy Watkins went down with a calf injury.
The Bills’ public relations Twitter account confirmed that the second-year pro would miss the remainder of the Week 3 AFC East showdown after registering a 39-yard catch to contribute to Buffalo’s offensive eruption.
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor led the charge for the Bills on Sunday and frequently targeted receiver Percy Harvin, connecting with him at a proficient rate.
Read on for Taylor’s and Harvin’s Week 3 numbers, followed by an updated fantasy forecast in light of Watkins’ unfortunate injury situation.
Tyrod Taylor
Taylor has been fine in 2015 regardless of Watkins’ status. Taylor’s dual-threat capabilities make him an attractive fantasy option.
Director of AFC Football Communications Jon Zimmer highlighted the historically hot run Taylor has been on since getting his first shot to be an NFL starter:
Thanks to his unique athleticism and mobility, Taylor can extend plays and rip off yards in chunks with his legs. More often, though, Taylor has proved to be capable of hanging in the pocket and delivering the ball with accuracy. After three interceptions in Week 2’s loss to the New England Patriots, he bounced back admirably.
Whether it’s daily fantasy or standard-format leagues, owners will want to deploy Taylor regardless of the matchup. He has numerous weapons around him and can create plays on his own accord through improvisation.
Percy Harvin
If Watkins is out for an extended period of time, Harvin figures to be Taylor’s go-to option among the targets in Buffalo’s receiving corps.
Based on head coach Rex Ryan‘s comments after the game, it appears Watkins could be sidelined for a while, per Syracuse.com’s Matthew Fairburn:
Chris Hogan was the only Bills wideout to find paydirt Sunday, but he’s not the type of home run threat Harvin is.
Hogan is a solid possession receiver but won’t generate the type of splash plays Harvin will. The fact that Taylor hit Harvin on seven of eight targets in Week 3 suggests the two have solid chemistry. Plus, Harvin can line up on the outside or in the slot and serve as Taylor’s No. 1 option on critical downs.
John Wawrow of the Associated Press was impressed with Harvin’s performance versus Miami:
Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman ought to be able to find creative ways to get the ball into Harvin’s hands. That showed in Week 3 when Harvin got two carries for 16 yards. During his days in Minnesota, Harvin lined up in the backfield at times, which could add an interesting element to the Bills rushing attack.
The upside for Harvin moving forward is tremendous. He may not be as consistent as some fantasy owners wish, but he warrants flex consideration regardless of the matchup. If Taylor continues to prove his worth as a legitimate pocket passer, Harvin could become a consistent fantasy WR2, though it’s too early to jump to that conclusion yet.
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Percy Harvin