Percy Harvin's Updated 2014 Fantasy Outlook Heading into Week 8

A number of critical factors play into whether newly acquired New York Jets wide receiver Percy Harvin can have a substantial fantasy impact when the Jets take on the Buffalo Bills in Week 8.

Harvin will first have to integrate with his teammates following a recent trade from the Seattle Seahawks. A couple of notable, negative incidents suggest Harvin was hard to tolerate, per NFL Network's Albert Breer:

Jets head coach Rex Ryan has dealt with fiery players in the past and has quite a big personality himself, so perhaps New York is an ideal destination for Harvin to land.

Given his limited impact so far in the 2014 season, Harvin should be deployed as a flex option and nothing more to start off. If he produces right away, then fantasy owners can cross that bridge if and when it arrives.

At least Harvin's initial thoughts on his new NFL home offer some encouragement.

"The coaching staff, the management, on to the owner, they're not worried about (my past)," said Harvin, via ESPN.com's Rich Cimini. "I even tried to explain a couple of things. They told me to be quiet and not to worry about it. It's been all smiles here."

Learning the playbook is also something Harvin has to do in crash-course fashion. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg runs a West Coast system, elements of which Harvin is familiar thanks to similar schemes to start his career in Minnesota and most recently with Seattle.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported some details on how that process was going on Sunday:

Above almost everything else, though, Harvin has to hope his quarterback, Geno Smith, can build on the promise he showed in Week 7.

Although the Jets fell to 1-6 with a 27-25 road loss to the New England Patriots, Smith played arguably his best game of the year, didn't turn the ball over and positioned the Jets for a long field goal and a shot to win.

Lackluster play at the QB position is something Harvin hasn't traditionally dealt with well, as Bleacher Report's Jason Cole suggested in his analysis:

Not helping the cause in Week 8 is a Bills team that is 4-3, still in the thick of the AFC East hunt unlike the Jets. Worst of the news is that Buffalo leads the NFL with 24 team sacks and is tied for third with eight interceptions.

Turnovers, decision-making and hesitancy have been weaknesses in Smith's game in his young pro career.

The intriguing part about adding Harvin, though, is that Smith's continuing development and questionable status as a franchise QB has been hampered by a lack of weapons. With the likes of Harvin and Eric Decker's creating a symbiotic relationship when they're on the field together, the process of evaluating Smith will be aided.

As Harvin starts to jell within the offense, he should get every opportunity to succeed. The Seahawks used him on handoffs and end-around plays to get him involved, and with Ryan's penchant to run the ball, Harvin should do some of that in New York too.

So it's wise to temper expectations for Harvin right now because he may not be familiar enough yet with the playbook, have enough chemistry with Smith or be in an ideal position for instant greatness.

The Jets' next two opponents are the Kansas City Chiefs on the road and back home against the Pittsburgh Steelers. K.C. is second versus the pass, while the Steelers always have a vaunted, complex defense coordinated by Dick LeBeau, which could confuse the young Smith.

A late Week 11 bye actually works in Harvin's favor. That will provide added time to acclimate to his fresh surroundings, develop more of a rapport outside of a hectic work week and make him a massive fantasy X-factor for the rest of 2014.

Until then, patience will be a virtue due to tough matchups. These next three games will test fantasy owners who have held on to Harvin, only to see him disappoint with just 22 receptions for 133 yards and one rushing touchdown.

Expect a couple of explosive plays against the Bills but nothing that will make Harvin a must-start in any fantasy league, unless teams are thin at wide receiver due to byes or are in a flex pinch.

Percy Harvin's Projected Week 8 Stats: 5 receptions, 55 yards; 2 carries, 15 yards