Percy Harvin, Doug Baldwin's Instant Fantasy Reaction After Week 5

Fantasy football can be a cruel mistress, and Percy Harvin owners found that out the hard way Monday night.

While the Seattle Seahawks picked up the win over Washington, those who were relying on Harvin probably cannot say the same about their game. Here is a look at the final Week 5 stats for Harvin and his fellow Seattle wide receiver, Doug Baldwin:

	Percy Harvin	Doug Baldwin
Catches	4	4
Receiving Yards	27	50
Receiving Touchdowns	0	0
Targets	5	5
Yards per Catch	6.8	12.5
Long Reception	13	20
Rushes	2	0
Rushing Yards	7	0
Rushing Touchdowns	0	0

On the surface, it looks like Harvin struggled to get anything going, but that is far from the truth. He actually scored three touchdowns during the course of the game, but they were somehow all called back for penalties.

Here is a look at all three:

It got to the point where it was laughable, but it was also brutal if you were actually counting on him to make up a fantasy deficit on Monday night. Numbers Never Lie and the NFL on ESPN summarized the proceedings perfectly:

Baldwin actually had a more productive day when it came to the final numbers, but it’s not as if his 50 receiving yards were setting any type of fantasy record.

If we are to project ahead for both of these receivers, it has to be taken into consideration that this is an offense that is predicated on running the ball, be it with Marshawn Lynch or Russell Wilson. Wilson ran for 122 yards and a touchdown Monday, while Lynch added 72 yards on the ground and a short touchdown catch.

Even against the porous Washington secondary, Seattle ran the ball 36 times to its 24 passes.

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

In the long term, that pattern is probably more detrimental to Baldwin’s fantasy value than Harvin’s because the team tries to get Harvin out in space with reverses or even some bubble screens. Wilson actually threw a short screen to Harvin that went for a touchdown in Monday’s game, but it was called back for a penalty.

Of course it was.

Harvin discussed the jet sweep earlier in the year, via Clare Farnsworth of Seahawks.com:

"

It’s neat to have so much talent around here where we can implement it in the offense and it’s not throwing off the offense too much. That’s what I like about being here, we can run jet sweep and then we can go power game and we also can air it out…It just adds a different dimension.

"

Coming into the game, Harvin led the Seahawks in receptions, targets and receiving yards. He is also an invaluable kick returner if you play in a league that features return yardage and touchdown points for individuals and not just defenses.

Harvin is a safe fantasy bet going forward as the top option in the passing game and a threat in the rushing attack. Monday’s game, which could have been incredible for fantasy purposes, is more of a ridiculous anomaly than anything else.

Nick Wass/Associated Press

As for Baldwin, he is probably more valuable as an actual player for the Seahawks as a deep threat or someone who can run underneath routes when opponents put too many guys in the box than as a fantasy option.

Again, the Seattle offense just runs far too often to put much stock or trust in Baldwin, and Harvin seems to be the main guy when someone outside of Wilson or Lynch gets the ball. Baldwin could be a flex play in deep leagues, but it is hard to see him as anything more for the time being.