June is the time when everyone looks poised for a breakout year. But sometimes the optimistic expectations turn out to be accurate, and there's certainly plenty of hype for Dolphins wideout DeVante Parker.
There have been stories suggesting the youngster is in for a big season for weeks now, with this Miami Herald column just the latest.
Parker says he was slowed by foot and hamstring injuries all of last season; wasn't healthy. Says he's now 100 percent. If so, there's some sleeper potential in Miami's passing game.
Even while apparently playing at less than 100 percent, Parker showed some explosive potential a year ago. Among receivers with at least 50 receptions, he had a higher percentage of 40-yard catches than all but six of them. Four of those players are well-known for their explosive plays: A.J. Green, DeSean Jackson, Brandin Cooks and Ted Ginn Jr. Parker, the team thinks, can have that kind of impact on the offense.
Wideouts with at least 50 catches, sorted by percentage of 40-yard plays, are below.
| WIDE RECEIVERS, 40-YARD CATCHES (2016) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | 40+ | Pct/40 |
| A.J. Green, Cin. | 66 | 964 | 14.6 | 4 | 6 | 9.1% |
| DeSean Jackson, Wash. | 56 | 1005 | 17.9 | 4 | 5 | 8.9% |
| Tyrell Williams, S.D. | 69 | 1059 | 15.3 | 7 | 6 | 8.7% |
| Brandin Cooks, N.O. | 78 | 1173 | 15.0 | 8 | 6 | 7.7% |
| Ted Ginn, Car. | 54 | 752 | 13.9 | 4 | 4 | 7.4% |
| Marvin Jones, Det. | 55 | 930 | 16.9 | 4 | 4 | 7.3% |
| DeVante Parker, Mia. | 56 | 744 | 13.3 | 4 | 4 | 7.1% |
| Mike Wallace, Balt. | 72 | 1017 | 14.1 | 4 | 5 | 6.9% |
| Quincy Enunwa, NYJ | 58 | 857 | 14.8 | 4 | 4 | 6.9% |
| Brandon LaFell, Cin. | 64 | 862 | 13.5 | 6 | 4 | 6.3% |
| Rishard Matthews, Tenn. | 65 | 945 | 14.5 | 9 | 4 | 6.2% |
| Julio Jones, Atl. | 83 | 1409 | 17.0 | 6 | 5 | 6.0% |
| Dez Bryant, Dall. | 50 | 796 | 15.9 | 8 | 3 | 6.0% |
| Odell Beckham, NYG | 101 | 1367 | 13.5 | 10 | 6 | 5.9% |
| Kenny Britt, L.A. | 68 | 1002 | 14.7 | 5 | 4 | 5.9% |
| Davante Adams, G.B. | 75 | 997 | 13.3 | 12 | 4 | 5.3% |
| Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 94 | 1128 | 12.0 | 7 | 5 | 5.3% |
| Terrelle Pryor, Clev. | 77 | 1007 | 13.1 | 4 | 4 | 5.2% |
| Kelvin Benjamin, Car. | 63 | 941 | 14.9 | 7 | 3 | 4.8% |
| Jamison Crowder, Wash. | 67 | 847 | 12.6 | 7 | 3 | 4.5% |
| Golden Tate, Det. | 91 | 1077 | 11.8 | 4 | 4 | 4.4% |
| Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 97 | 1257 | 13.0 | 14 | 4 | 4.1% |
| Alshon Jeffery, Chi. | 52 | 821 | 15.8 | 2 | 2 | 3.8% |
| Pierre Garcon, Wash. | 79 | 1041 | 13.2 | 3 | 3 | 3.8% |
| Adam Humphries, T.B. | 55 | 622 | 11.3 | 2 | 2 | 3.6% |
| Stefon Diggs, Minn. | 84 | 903 | 10.8 | 3 | 3 | 3.6% |
| Dontrelle Inman, S.D. | 58 | 810 | 14.0 | 4 | 2 | 3.4% |
| Michael Crabtree, Oak. | 89 | 1003 | 11.3 | 8 | 3 | 3.4% |
| Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 90 | 1083 | 12.0 | 5 | 3 | 3.3% |
| Tyreek Hill, K.C. | 61 | 593 | 9.7 | 6 | 2 | 3.3% |
| Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 94 | 1136 | 12.1 | 4 | 3 | 3.2% |
| Adam Thielen, Minn. | 69 | 967 | 14.0 | 5 | 2 | 2.9% |
| Steve Smith, Balt. | 70 | 799 | 11.4 | 5 | 2 | 2.9% |
| Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 106 | 1284 | 12.1 | 12 | 3 | 2.8% |
| Willie Snead, N.O. | 72 | 895 | 12.4 | 4 | 2 | 2.8% |
| DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 78 | 954 | 12.2 | 4 | 2 | 2.6% |
| Emmanuel Sanders, Den. | 79 | 1032 | 13.1 | 5 | 2 | 2.5% |
| Amari Cooper, Oak. | 83 | 1153 | 13.9 | 5 | 2 | 2.4% |
| T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 91 | 1448 | 15.9 | 6 | 2 | 2.2% |
| Tavon Austin, L.A. | 58 | 509 | 8.8 | 3 | 1 | 1.7% |
| Brandon Marshall, NYJ | 59 | 788 | 13.4 | 3 | 1 | 1.7% |
| Mohamed Sanu, Atl. | 59 | 653 | 11.1 | 4 | 1 | 1.7% |
| Randall Cobb, G.B. | 60 | 610 | 10.2 | 4 | 1 | 1.7% |
| Marqise Lee, Jac. | 63 | 851 | 13.5 | 3 | 1 | 1.6% |
| Cameron Meredith, Chi. | 66 | 888 | 13.5 | 4 | 1 | 1.5% |
| Jordan Matthews, Phil. | 73 | 804 | 11.0 | 3 | 1 | 1.4% |
| Allen Robinson, Jac. | 73 | 883 | 12.1 | 6 | 1 | 1.4% |
| Cole Beasley, Dall. | 75 | 833 | 11.1 | 5 | 1 | 1.3% |
| Michael Thomas, N.O. | 92 | 1137 | 12.4 | 9 | 1 | 1.1% |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 96 | 1321 | 13.8 | 12 | 1 | 1.0% |
| Julian Edelman, N.E. | 98 | 1106 | 11.3 | 3 | 1 | 1.0% |
| Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 107 | 1023 | 9.6 | 6 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Anquan Boldin, Det. | 67 | 584 | 8.7 | 8 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Sterling Shepard, NYG | 65 | 683 | 10.5 | 8 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Jeremy Kerley, S.F. | 64 | 667 | 10.4 | 3 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Tyler Boyd, Cin. | 54 | 603 | 11.2 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Cordarrelle Patterson, Minn. | 52 | 453 | 8.7 | 2 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Robert Woods, Buff. | 51 | 613 | 12.0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
--Andy Richardson