Fitzpatrick’s Chemistry with the Receivers

The limited training camp means Tua Tagovailoa hasn’t had time to build chemistry with the Dolphins’ receivers. That’s not a problem for Ryan Fitzpatrick, though.

Fitzpatrick found a favorite receiver last season in the 6’3 DeVante Parker. The former first-round pick, entering his sixth season with the Dolphins, established himself as one of the league’s best deep threats in 2019. Parker had 14 receptions more than 20 yards downfield, the fourth-most in the NFL.

He was at his best just as Fitzpatrick and the rest of the team started to take off. Parker led the NFL in receiving yards (733) and touchdowns (five, tied with Michael Thomas, A.J. Brown, and Breshad Perriman) over the last seven weeks. Matched up against Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore in Week 17, Parker had eight catches for 137 yards in the Dolphins’ last-minute victory over the Patriots.

That camaraderie Fitzpatrick built with Parker last season is going to be important in 2020, but there’s some uncertainty elsewhere in their receiving corps. Preston Williams, the No. 2 receiver on the depth chart, is working his way back from a torn ACL suffered in Week 9. Jakeem Grant only caught 19 passes in 10 games last season. Veteran receivers Albert Wilson and Allen Hurds have opted-out from playing this year.