Rookie Report Card: DeVante Parker and Will Tye
Each week throughout the season, I’ll cover one or two rookies in the Rookie Report Card and try to always include the biggest performers from that particular week. On top of reviewing my expectations for each player coming into the league and covering how he’s performed at the NFL level to this point, I’ll actually give him a grade in three categories. Those categories are performance to date, 2015 potential and long term upside.
The series continues with a look at DeVante Parker and Will Tye.
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DeVante Parker, WR MIA
Week 12 Stats: four receptions, 80 receiving yards, one touchdown reception on ten targets
Like many, I had Parker rated as a top-five talent in dynasty rookie drafts this summer. Although he hasn’t had the dynamic rookie season that we all hoped he would have, there’s no reason to think he’s not going to prove himself as worthy of that off-season rating.
During his time at Louisville, Parker showed the traits of an elite wide receiver prospect. With excellent length at 6-foot-3, he showed the ability to use it to his advantage, regularly out leaping smaller defensive backs for jump balls and catching it at its highest point. His large frame also allowed him to “box out” defenders and keep them away from the football. Showing time and again to have incredible focus with the ball in the air despite defenders hanging on him, he displayed elite jump ball skills which made him one of the premier red zone and big play targets in college football.
To go along with the killer instinct he showed with the ball in the air, Parker complemented those skills with incredibly soft hands. Rarely dropping a pass and always securing the ball immediately after the catch, he was one of the most dependable receivers to enter the draft over the last handful of seasons.
If there was a drawback to Parker’s game coming out of college it was his lack of quickness as a route runner. Although he ran a respectable 4.45 40-time at the combine, he lacked the ability to abruptly change direction as a route runner or ball carrier after the catch – particularly after returning from a foot injury during his final season at Louisville.
Because of the skills he showed throughout his time in college, Parker spent the spring as a top-five pick in most dynasty rookie mock drafts. After he was selected by the Dolphins with the 14th overall pick in the draft, he cemented himself as such.
Being such a high draft pick, expectations were high for Parker coming into his rookie season. After catching just four passes for 49 yards in his first 10 games as a professional however, he’s been a disappointment to most. On Sunday though, dynasty owners saw a glimpse of the upside of their off-season investment against the Jets, when he hauled in four balls for 80 yards and a score on 10 targets.
Parker’s first catch of the afternoon came early in the third quarter on second-and-seven from the 15 yard line. Lined up on the left side of the formation, he ran a drag behind the linebackers and Ryan Tannehill hit him in stride after rolling to his right. Parker turned up the right sideline and picked up 20-yards on the play. Although the play didn’t take a lot of talent, he ran the route at full speed and showed his good hands and the ability to run after the catch on the play.
After catching two more passes for 13 and 14 yards respectively, later in the third quarter, Parker made another play late in the game.
With time running out in the fourth quarter and the Dolphins trailing 38-14, Parker lined up wide to the right on fourth-and-five from the 33-yard line. With the defense in a prevent, he ran a 12-yard out to the sideline and easily caught the pass in front of Antonio Cromartie. Instead of simply stepping out of bounds though, he stepped inside of Cromartie and made safety Marcus Gilchrist miss with a slick stop and go move before outracing the pair to the end zone.
Although the catch couldn’t help his team come from behind, if nothing else it should have caused the eyebrows of dynasty owners everywhere to raise. While it shouldn’t be a surprise to see him make a catch or find the end zone, Parker looked quick and showed the type of elusiveness that he lacked after returning from foot surgery at Louisville a year ago. His impressive burst on the play certainly bodes well for his upside both in the short and long term.
After being used very sparingly through his first 11 games with the Dolphins, it was a pleasant surprise to see Parker get 10 targets on Sunday. While the usage is encouraging for his short term upside, fantasy players should keep in mind that much of that production came in garbage time. In fact, each of his catches came in the second half after the Jets had a two touchdown lead. Furthermore, Parker likely was only seeing the field because Rishard Matthews hurt his ribs in the opening minutes of the game.
While there’s no reason the 4-7 Dolphins shouldn’t let Parker play full time for the rest of the season to give the rookie some experience, there also hasn’t been a good one for him to be sitting behind the likes of Greg Jennings and others, so there’s no guarantee Parker will see the field more going forward. Even if he does get more playing time down the stretch, his fantasy upside for the rest of the year is limited in the Dolphins’ offense and he shouldn’t be trusted by fantasy players just yet.
Although his positive play on Sunday may not point towards a great deal of short term upside, Parker’s long term potential is still through the roof. Dynasty owners should see the couple plays he made as confirmation that the draft pick they spent on him over the summer wasn’t wasted, and look forward to seeing his progression going forward.
Overall, I’m still convinced Parker carries high end WR2 upside and should continue have the value of a top-five rookie pick. I wouldn’t sell him for less than that and contrarily, would be happy to buy him at anything less than that price tag.
Will Tye, TE NYG
Week 12 Stats: six receptions, 74 receiving yards on seven targets
Tye was an unknown to many during the draft process. After transferring to Stoney Brook from Florida State due to lack of playing time with the Seminoles, he gained a reputation as a pass catching tight end after hauling in 79 passes for 1,015 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
Showing incredible speed for a tight end during his pro day, Tye ran a 4.47 40-yard dash. He also displayed good lateral agility and acceleration, posting a 6.96-second three-cone drill and a 4.33-second short shuttle. All three times would have ranked among the top three among tight ends at the scouting combine.
Tye locked up the Giants’ backup tight end spot behind Larry Donnell during the preseason but took over as the starter after Donnell hurt his neck a few weeks ago. So far on the year, he’s hauled in 21 passes for 226 yards and his biggest game came on Sunday against the Redskins, when he caught six passes for 74 yards.
Tye’s biggest play of the game came in the fourth quarter with the Giants down 20-7. On fourth-and-two from their own 43-yard line, Tye was lined up as the in-line tight end on the left side of the formation. With a linebacker and safety in bracket coverage, he ran an absolutely gorgeous double move where he faked a five-yard out and split the two defenders up the seam. The play went for 28-yards and a first down and allowed Odell Beckham Jr. to make his ridiculous catch for a touchdown moments later.
All things told, Tye has the tools to be a part-time playmaking pass catcher but has struggled mightily as a blocker and ball security has been a problem for him in the past. Although he has been praised by the Giants’ coaching staff at times since arriving in New York as an undrafted free agent, his shortcoming will likely keep him from being a fantasy producer.
Still a free agent in many dynasty leagues, Tye is worth a roster spot for those in deep leagues that have a roster spot to spare. While he may not have the potential to be a regular TE1, any tight end with that kind of speed that is getting regular playing time is worth a shot if there’s space to do so.
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- League Tycoon: Dynasty Salary Cap Fantasy Football - December 15, 2023
- Final Dynasty Rookie Report Card: Wide Receivers, Part Two - March 22, 2023
- 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Offensive Player Dynasty Review - March 10, 2023
