Miami Dolphins: DeVante Parker’s value to the offense

Coming off injury DeVante Parker has become a polarizing figure amongst Miami Dolphins fans. What value does he bring to the team?

The ultra-talented wide receiver, DeVante Parker, has yet to live up to expectations since the Miami Dolphins selected him in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He is one of the more frustrating cases in the league as expectations for him are high every summer leading to a regular season letdown.

The oft-injured wideout has been just that to start the season after breaking his finger in August leaving him lacking the ability to catch a football, a key attribute to the job of an NFL wide receiver. It looked like he was ready to come back Week 2, however, he was left inactive. The reason why has been speculated about.

It looks like he should be back in Week 3, but what does he bring to the team and should the undefeated Dolphins even want him on the field?

While Parker certainly hasn’t lived up to his skill set, he also doesn’t come off as a flat out bust. He doesn’t give the vibe of a lost cause, similar to under-performers of recent years like Justin Hunter or Cordarrelle Patterson. At the same time, he’s nowhere the player he should be either with a skill set that best compares to A.J. Green.

Over the past two seasons, his numbers average out to 14 games played, 56.5 receptions, 707 yards and 2.5 touchdowns. So he’s not useless, just not what he’s hoped to be. Personally, it reminds me a lot of Sammy Watkins.

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The big question is with things going well for the Phins, should they insert Parker into the starting lineup opposite Kenny Stills? Is his upside worth upsetting the applecart if his potential is so rarely realized. The short answer is yes. Perhaps he should be eased back and may never have to be an every-down player, but he is a player the team needs to activate and get on the field.

The biggest reason is his 6-3, 216-pound frame. With the exception of the 6-1 Stills, the Dolphins wideouts are tiny and their is certainly room for a big, athletic target in this offense. Parker can serve both to stretch the field and in the red zone as a physical mismatch that no one else on the team truly possesses.

Danny Amendola stands 5-11, Albert Wilson 5-9 and Jakeem Grant 5-7. I don’t want to see any of them eliminated from the offense, but situational football calls for differing personnel.

I’m aware that the natural reaction in the social media era of trolls is to just call him “trash” and write him off because he didn’t live up to his Fantasy ADP, but that’s only because people aren’t always so bright and the intellect gap is the only thing separating quicker than the wealth gap in our country.

Nevertheless, nuance is still a thing and football isn’t played on the internet. Parker absolutely is a valuable asset to the Dolphins offense and it’s up to the coaching staff to figure out how to use their 6’3 chess piece.

They should activate him this week and get him in the game. It’s perfectly fine to start him with a smaller role and let his play and game plan decide how he’s used week-to-week. No one is better at that than Bill Belichick and it seems to work out pretty well for them.

There are two things you don’t want to do with a first-rounder like Parker: Declare him a bust just because he doesn’t live up to imaginary expectations or stubbornly commit to a mistake. Miami needs to find a middle ground and use Parker to their advantage. Ignore what he’s supposed to be and focus on what he is. And most importantly for the immediate future what he is right now is healthy.