Over the last few days, I've been taking a look at the fantasy expectations for many of the top offensive rookies. Todd Gurley and Amari Cooper may be a bit up and down. Kevin White and Nelson Agholor could hit the ground running.
But what about DeVante Parker?
Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill has shown glimpses of ability mixed with inconsistency. But, overall, this is a team on the rise and I think that helps Parker's fantasy value.
"Parker has a wiry build and isn't overly strong, so getting off of press coverage in the NFL might be a problem for him early in his career," ESPN Fantasy Insider Matt Williamson wrote. "But he can attack a defense at every level, make big plays and really go up and get the ball in the air. Very productive and with a great catching radius, Parker lands in a strong spot in Miami with a promising quarterback and an uptempo system. Plus, the Dolphins utilize three-wide receiver sets as much or more as just about any offense in the league. Parker is now Miami's most talented offensive skill-position player."
Parker hauled in 43 catches for 855 yards and five touchdowns in only seven games last season. He's a big-play receiver (19.9 yards per catch last year) who will be able to leverage Tannehill's arm strength into homerun plays.
Of course, Miami's offense is going through a bit of a turnover. Mike Wallace was traded, Charles Clay signed elsewhere in free agency and Kenny Stills is now in town. This might cause a bit of a slow start out of the gate. But I wouldn't be surprised if Parker surpassed Sammy Watkins' rookie numbers thanks to better quarterback play.
