DeVante

Parker

The nine-year veteran wide receiver signed a one-year contract with the Eagles in March but ultimately retired before playing a snap with the franchise. Parker spent the first seven years of his NFL career with the Dolphins before playing the previous two seasons with the Patriots. He cited a desire to spend more time with his family as the primary reason for his decision. Parker ends his career with 402 receptions, 5,660 yards, and 27 touchdowns.

Parker is just days removed from being cut by the Patriots in a move that was expected to come down the line. Parker caught 64 passes for 933 yards and three touchdowns in the Patriots’ defunct offense and was targeted on just 15.8 percent of his routes. Far from a WR1, Parker could offer some upside as a WR3 in an Eagles offense that ranked near the top of the league in 11 personnel last season. For now, Parker’s signing is of more value to real football than fantasy.

The move will officially happen on Wednesday, but Parker has already been granted permission to talk to other teams. Though it’s no surprise that the Pats are moving on from Parker after his 33-catch, 394-yard campaign in 2023. The veteran boundary receiver was unable to separate from defenders, command targets at a high clip, or do damage with the ball in his hands. Most of his time in 2023 was spent doing wind sprints. What is more than a bit surprising is the fact that the Patriots signed him to a three-year contract extension last summer. The deal was worth up to $33 million, though much of that was based on incentives that he never earned. One of many wide receiver blunders for the Patriots in recent memory, Parker will be stuck with backup duties on whatever team signs him this offseason.

With the snow swirling in Foxborough, boundary man Parker had zero shot at a big day with Bailey Zappe’s pop-gun arm under center. Two weeks shy of his 31st birthday, Parker battled through injury to make 12 2023 appearances, though his 32 receptions were another sign of decline. They were also a sign of Mac Jones and Zappe playing quarterback, but the quarterbacks and coach Bill Belichick are all primed to be gone for 2024. Somehow guaranteed $3.19 million for next season, Parker will probably be retained by the Patriots’ new brain trust, but it’s possible he simply isn’t good enough to make the team out of training camp. Parker isn’t much of a hold in Dynasty leagues.

Parker was limited in practice throughout the week but will have a chance to suit up in the season finale against the Jets. The veteran receiver could be a cut candidate this offseason despite being under contract with the team through 2025. Parker was mysteriously signed to a three-year deal last offseason after going for 31-539-3 in 2022 and has underperformed his new deal by a wide margin. He’ll have one more game to pad his stats before the offseason but will be off the fantasy radar in Week 18.

Parker had just one catch for 15 yards before exiting with an injury; however, that gave him the most among any Patriots receivers at the time. The Patriots are already thin at receiver, but Bailey Zappe could lean more on Tyquan Thornton and his tight ends, Pharaoh Brown and Mike Gesicki down the stretch.

This has become Parker’s standard statline in the Patriots’ post-Mac Jones offense. He is providing some real life value but he isn’t compiling or scoring enough (or at all) to generate WR4 fantasy value. The Pats could be forced into pass-heavier ways for Week 17 against the Bills.

Parker should see a few deep shots as the Patriots play from behind against the Chiefs, though Demario Douglas is a better bet to lead the team in targets. Parker has two games over 50 yards and no touchdowns this year. Injuries have bogged down his age-30 season, but his production has been lacking when active. He ranks as a WR6 for Week 15.

Parker missed Week 14 because of the injury but practiced during all three of the Pats’ sessions this week, putting him on track to return versus Kansas City. However, with Demario Douglas healthy, Parker’s role will likely decline. If active, he will only rank as a WR5 for Week 15.

Parker was limited in practice throughout the week for Week 14 but ultimately fell among the team’s inactives on Thursday. The mini-bye should help him retake the field, though we won’t know for sure until at least Friday. With Demario Douglas likely to return, there isn’t any fantasy value to be had with Parker, healthy or not.