Dynasty owners who recently selected DeVante Parker in rookie drafts got a blow yesterday with a report that Parker would undergo foot surgery and miss eight weeks. That will essentially keep him out through training camp and into the exhibition season.
Parker broke his foot and missed the first half of his final college season, then was awesome when he returned, catching 43 passes for 855 yards and 5 TDs in just six games. But his foot was bothering him after a practice at OTAs, and now surgery is required.
The Dolphins don't expect Parker to miss any regular-season games, so there's that. But his development will be slowed.
Still, those in dynasty leagues should be careful not to overreact. Last year I had a dynasty draft in May, and Odell Beckham Jr. was the No. 5 overall pick. I had another one in mid-August, when Beckham was sidelined with a hamstring injury, and that time Beckham slipped to the bottom of the second round -- people were already wary of drafting an injury-prone bust with their first-round pick.
Not that Parker is the next Beckham, but a lost preseason doesn't have to be killer to someone's fantasy value, either as a rookie or long-term. It just means you won't get that July and August tape and media reports to make you feel good about the player.
I drafted Parker in a dynasty draft last week, and was disappointed by the news. But I'm not going to write him off or give him away for someone drafted a few picks later just because of a setback. Too soon for any of that concern.
--Andy Richardson
