Rodney Harrison

Harrison missed 24 of a possible 37 games over the last two seasons, including the playoffs. He's healthy for now and though age and injuries may have robbed him of a step, he can still rack up tackles (and the occasional pick) for IDP owners with his hard-hitting ways.

ACL, MCL and PCL are bad letters to see next to your name. Harrison tore all three in Week 3 last year. There was some talk of the 11-year veteran having to call it a career, but Harrison spent the offseason in Foxboro rehabbing and shows every indication that he’s motivated to pick up where he left off. Still, while he should he be back, it’s unclear if it will be by Week 1. What we do know is he plays with an unrivaled mean streak. He’s generated contact like no one else in the defensive backfield; covered, rushed, made open field stops, you name it. The question is whether he still can. On the pro side of the argument, his game was never based on speed, but smarts, instincts and aggression. We noted it in last season’s preview as well: excluding last year, he’s averaged 91.6 solo tackles, 3.3 sacks, 3.8 picks and 7.9 passes defended in nine years as a starter dating back to 1996. Most linebackers can’t say that. Harrison is a special talent worth watching as training camp and fantasy drafts approach.

Put on a jersey and Rodney Harrison will hit you. Since he became a starter in 1996, Harrison has averaged 91.6 solo tackles, 3.3 sacks, 3.8 interceptions and 7.9 passes defended, which are just insane numbers even for a linebacker. At safety, they’re Hall of Fame quality. He hasn’t finished any year as the No. 1 defensive back in some time. That honor typically goes to whoever snagged nine interceptions that year (and who usually isn’t even in the top 20 the following year). Consistency is Harrison’s game. He has been the No. 4 guy the past two years, has more fantasy points than any other defensive back over that span and fills in every week with high tackle numbers. Since he doesn’t rely on interceptions for a high percentage of his points, Harrison is reliable, and features a skill set that’s sustainable with age. Ed Reed may have a touch more upside, but Harrison won’t fail you, week after week and year after year.

Used to be there was death, taxes, Derrick Brooks at linebacker and Harrison at defensive back. We've said goodbye to the golden days of Mr. Brooks, and it seemed that way for Harrison after his solo tackles dipped to 71 in 2002. It's uncanny what 16 games under Bill Belichick do for you: 94 solo tackles, three interceptions, three sacks and 11 passes defended. That's pretty much an average year for a healthy Harrison. He's one of the few safeties who's delivered linebacker numbers throughout his career. That he scores with tackles and not interceptions makes his production all the more stable.

An injured groin and a one-game suspension for a helmet-to-helmet hit cost Harrison three games last year and resulted in a sub-par season for the Pro Bowl strong safety. After the Chargers released him over the winter, Harrison signed with Bill Belichick's Patriots and will play alongside fellow tackling machine Lawyer Milloy, who had an off season last year.