2021 DeVante Parker Fantasy Football Player Profile

It’s that time of year once again! Football Absurdity will bring you a breakdown of every notable fantasy football-relevant player throughout June, July, and August. We’ve run through 20 quarterbacks and 40 running backs; that means it’s time to get to the deepest and most varied position! That’s right, we’re on to the wide receivers! 2020 DeVante Parker failed to build on his previous success, and there’s little to suggest that 2021 DeVante Parker will have enough opportunity to show his 2019 wasn’t just a fluke.

DeVante Parker ADP & AAV:

Average Draft Position (HPPR): WR45, Pick 118
Average Auction Value: $1.4 (WR44)

DeVante Parker Statistics:

2021 DeVante Parker Fantasy Football Overview:

DeVante Parker was a fun punching bag for years. Every year, one of Miami’s intrepid beat reporters would breathlessly report that Parker was the best receiver in camp, and that he was poised for a breakout. It never came. That is, until 2019. In 2019, he finished with 1,202 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns on 128 targets. Prior to that point, he averaged 85 targets per sixteen games, for 669 yards and three scores. Not exactly exciting. He followed up that campaign with 793 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns in 14 games last year. Why is that?

Well, DeVante Parker just isn’t that good. He is immensely athletic, posting a 9.75 RAS in 2015. What happened in 2019, then? Maybe a complete depletion of viable wide receiver targets around him? After Parker, you had Albert Wilson, Preston Williams, Allen Hurns, and Isaiah Ford vying for WR targets, and Preston played in just eight games. That means that throughout the vast majority of the season, Ryan Fitzpatrick’s choice was DeVante Parker or some mix of Bert, Hurts, or Ford. I’d throw it to DeVante, too.

Now, Parker has some serious problems. The Miami Dolphins don’t have Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB anymore and replaced Bert, Hurns, and Ford with Will Fuller, Jaylen Waddle, and Preston Williams. Say what you want about Williams, the man is fine as a WR4. Never mind the persistent Mike Gesicki targets and the emergence of Myles Gaskin as one of the best pass-catching backs in the NFL in 2020.

Parker has always been athletic, he just hasn’t ever been very good at football. One year, he was the only viable wide receiver target, and he had over 800 yards for the only time in his career. He is no longer the only viable WR target in Miami.

2021 DeVante Parker Draft Strategy:

DeVante Parker Auction Value: $1
Draft Ranking: Find out for your league settings in a Beersheet!

I mean, don’t do it? That seems like an easy and straightforward answer. Wait until someone rage drops him several weeks into the season if you want him. There is a universe where he’s left all alone in the wide receiver room. Will Fuller can’t stay healthy (right up until he got popped for PEDs… curious), and Jaylen Waddle could struggle in his transition to the NFL. And lord knows that it isn’t going to be Preston Williams to step up. So, if you really believe in DeVante Parker, there are some feel-goods for you when you ignore me and click the draft button on him.

I just won’t be the one doing that.

Best Case Scenario:

He turns in another 2019 season as everyone falls away in Miami, leaving just Gaskin, Gesicki and Parker. He mysteriously finishes third in targets.

Worst Case Scenario:

People will start to say “Albert Wilson, Allen Hurns, Isaiah Ford, and DeVante Parker” after he fails to turn in 800 yards yet again.

Check out all our 2021 player profiles, here.

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[Statistics are sourced from pro-football-reference.com, airyards.com, and ftnfantasy.com]