DeVante Parker will play against Oakland but will he make an impact?
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins will have DeVante Parker on the field today for the first time in 2018 but will it make a difference?
DeVante Parker has been suffering from a broken finger since training camp and now he will see his first action of 2018. The Dolphins offense has had some consistency issues through two weeks of play but there is little question that Jakeem Grant and Albert Wilson have been shining stars.
Parker will be an interesting guy to watch today. He simply has yet to put up mega numbers over his career both through an entire season and single games. His best game in 2015, his rookie season was a five catch final weekend game against the Patriots. It was his first 100 yard receiving day.
In 2016 his best performance was an eight catch effort in week nine. He posted two games in 2016 over 100 yards. Week one with 106 and week eight with 103. In 2017 Parker failed to post more than 100 yards receiving all season. His best catch count came in week 2 with eight.
What Miami needs is a scoring threat and Parker, through three seasons thus far, has scored eight times. Three in his rookie year, four in 2016, and one all of last season. Can the Dolphins find a way to get him into the red-zone packages successfully?
This is an important season for Parker who had his 5th year option picked up by the team during the off-season. It’s guaranteed only for injury. Parker needs to take a big step forward in 2018 if he is going to find suitors for a big second contract either in 2019 or 2020. It starts today.
More from Phin Phanatic
- Tua Tagovailoa practicing with teammates is everything a leader does
- 4 offensive tackles Miami Dolphins could draft at 51
- Miami Dolphins don’t need CB help but these 5 could be available at 51
- 4 players that could replace Wilkins if Miami Dolphins don’t re-sign him
- Miami Dolphins have a starting point with Wilkins after Simmons deal
If Parker is going to take a step forward then he needs to get on the field and stay on the field, something he has had problems with throughout his career. More importantly he needs to get out of his own head. Injuries happen and dings happen as well. He needs to learn to play through the dings.
Whether or not the Dolphins will be better with him in the offense will be known later today. Parker should make the team better just by drawing coverages off the other receivers. He will give Adam Gase another offensive weapon that should help Ryan Tannehill. He needs to shake off the rust early and get himself in position to make plays.
Parker could have a good day to day and the Dolphins will likely use him as a target throughout the game but don’t be surprised if they opt to use him as a decoy early until he can shake off some of the rust.