DeVante Parker
In week 1, Miami Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker was injured and missed the game with a broken finger. Last week, Parker was reportedly healthy, but head coach Adam Gase opted to hold him out of the game anyway. That decision has prompted speculation that Parker may be on the trading block, which I don’t think would be a terrible idea. But for now, Parker remains on the team and will likely see his first action of the season Sunday against the Raiders.
The Dolphins pass offense has been somewhat of an enigma this season. On the one hand, I love what I’ve been seeing from the team in comparison to last season. The additions of Albert Wilson and Danny Amendola have brought a fresh new look to the Dolphins offense. One that has been sorely needed for years. Amendola brings a reliable safety valve for quarterback Ryan Tannehill, and Wilson has brought a chess piece who can be moved all over the field to create match-up nightmares for opposing defenses.
All that sounds great, but the reality is that, for as excited as fans are about the passing offense, the new look hasn’t exactly brought results. Yes, the Dolphins have opened up with two straight wins. Yes, Tannehill is completing over 70 percent of his passes and has four touchdowns on the season. But that’s only part of the story.
The flip-side of that is that the Miami Dolphins currently rank 26th in total yards per game, and 28th in the league in passing yards per game. They’re 28th in the league in first down through the air, and Tannehill only has a 32.0 QBR on the season. I believe those stats paint a more grim picture than is true to the situation, but they go to show that the way Miami is currently winning games isn’t sustainable.
The question is, can DeVante Parker be the answer to the passing game issues? Parker has incredible talent, but hasn’t been able to put it together consistently as of yet. That said, putting him on the field with Kenny Stills and Wilson makes — at least in theory — a dynamic trio of receivers. At the very least, Parker can draw some coverage away from Stills and allow him to be the deep-threat weapon we know him to be.
The explosive play has been largely absent from the Dolphins passing attack. One way or another, the Dolphins will be looking to Parker to open up that aspect of the game on Sunday.
