Mike Smith Confirms Harry Douglas Will Start Week 6
Alex Dunlap, Rosterwatch.com

Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith confirmed during the media portion of Wednesday’s practice that slot WR Harry Douglas will start in place of injured WR Julio Jones in the Falcons Week 6 Division matchup with the Panthers, lining up opposite #1 WR Roddy White.

Jones has a tweaked hamstring, and the team is targeting a week 7 return.

Harry Douglas has always been a pre-season hype guy, but has never truly broken out as an offensive threat, having never recorded a 100-yard receiving game during his 3-year career.

The Panthers are a middle of the road pass defense, but have been in the top quarter of teams in the league at shutting down fantasy WRs, mainly due to the fact that they are often getting burned on the ground or playing behind a team that has gotten off to an early lead and gone to a clock control offense to keep Panthers QB Cam Newton off the field.

Still, it is a division game and familiarity breeds fantasy football production in big games. Douglas has been a significant part of that scheme for Matt Ryan’s entire career.

If the Panthers double cover Roddy White like the Giants did to Seahawks #1 WR Sidney Rice last week when they were playing without their bigger, more physical wideout in Mike Williams- Harry Douglas could be a beneficiary in the same way that Doug Baldwin was last week as a smaller, fast slot guy lining up as a #2.

If you’re hurting during the fantasy football bye weeks, you could probably do better, but could definitely do worse as a 1-week fill in play for your last WR spot.

Check our watch list on the front page for other guys you should be keeping an eye on.