Player Spotlight: Willie Parker (1 Viewer)

[TheFanatic]

I'm not going to go out and call 500 carries, I said that was a little above what I had Mendenhall down for. I think the best comparison I can think of is Addai/Rhodes a few years back. The steelers should run a tad more. I don't think Parker gets as many TDs as Addai did, but I'd put Mendenhall's #'s around Rhodes in terms of carries/a little better yardage.

This is a pretty good comparison. I think it will be something like this but the two will be a little closer to each other than Addai and Rhodes. But this is better than the near career highs predicted earlier...

 

[Jon_Moore]

I'm not going to go out and call 500 carries, I said that was a little above what I had Mendenhall down for. I think the best comparison I can think of is Addai/Rhodes a few years back. The steelers should run a tad more. I don't think Parker gets as many TDs as Addai did, but I'd put Mendenhall's #'s around Rhodes in terms of carries/a little better yardage.

This is a pretty good comparison. I think it will be something like this but the two will be a little closer to each other than Addai and Rhodes. But this is better than the near career highs predicted earlier...

The only thing near career highs are YPC and Receptions, I'll stand by it, I don't feel that's outlandish at all.

 

[Gottabesweet]

209 for 856 - 5 td's 18 catches 150 yards - Parker

I have Mendenhall at

140 - 644- 5td's

Russell/Moore to get 50-75 carries combined.

 

[rzrback77]

I'm a little on the fence with Willie Parker. I think that the statements about the Steelers being disappointed in him are just not true. Mendenhall fell farther than he should have and the Steelers drafted the best available. I am not sure how fast he will be worked in, maybe the pre-season practices will give us a better idea.

Several have mentioned that Paker's ypc have declined. This is true, but his carries have gone up and that is a typical corollary. Several have also mentioned that Tomlin has passed more than in the previous regime, but Parker averaged 21 carries per game in both 06 and 07, actually just slightly more carries per game in 07. He could lose a few carries and still carry value as he has a current ADP of RB 20 and 36 overall. All five staff members project him for between 1273 and 1397 yards from scrimmage. This screams value at the bottom of the third round in 12-team leagues.

I will probably be looking for him around that ADP in my leagues.

Willie Parker 280 carries 1204 yds 4.3 ypc 25 catches 175 yards 7.0 ypc and 7 TDs

 

[Irish]

I went back through and I was highest at 275 carries which is a 46 carry decline from last year. I predicted 8 tds, (big deal) my gut tells me the 2 tds of last year were the anomaly. Willie has the ability to score from anywhere on the field and thats what I'm predicting. So as you can see nobody has predicted more touches.

I was wondering about that myself. Who in here is predicting an increase in production?If Parker got those 18 carries per game he'd still be clearing nearly 290 carries. I don't see that happening. I think they're going to want him in the 250-260 area. Mendenhall in the 160-ish area. The rest of the RB stable likely won't get many carries at all combined, unless injury strikes, regardless of how much they "like Gary Russell." I see Moore snaking catches from BOTH Parker and Mendenhall, at least while Mendenhall picks up blocking/blitz assignments.

As for Faneca leaving, there will certainly be a downgrade of some sort at least for a while, but Faneca had regressed for two straight seasons. He's not the Alan Faneca from 2005 anymore. He didn't exactly have a banner year in 2007(nor did any of their OLineman) and the Steelers still had the league leader in rushing yardage when Parker got hurt. The play of their OC was HORRID, which probably had an effect on Faneca last season, so if they can even get "league average" play at C the downgrade at LG may not be as large of a drop as you'd think. A drop off, yes. A fall into the abyss? Maybe not.

Basically, Parker will be getting his. Mendenhall will be getting his too, though. The rub with Parker is that drafting him basically forces you to consider taking Mendenhall early enough to be able to lock down the Steeler running game. And that's a high price to potentially have to pay for a guy who's likely going to score like a RB2.

Still, that running game should still be too good to ignore and if either Parker or Mendenhall gets hurt the other's value shoots up immediately.

 

[BigRed]

bump for people who don't realize these player spotlights exist.

 

[go jints]

I think I like Willie Parker a little more than most because I am not as concerned about Rashard Mendenhall stealing carries. From watching Medenhall in the preseason it looks like he is not the type of back that will step in from Day 1 and make an impact. He needs to learn how to run in the NFL. He runs too upright and he tip toes to the line of scrimmage instead of quickly hitting the hole.

With that being said I project Willie to get:

275 carries for 1184 yds and 5 TD's plus 26 recs for 189 yds and 1 TD.

These numbers put him as the number 17 RB on my list.