Parker Washington

Fantasy Outlook

Parker Washington had an 87.5% slot snap rate over his three years at Penn State and flashed 4.49 speed at the Combine. He'd be a solid target for any offense on the rise looking for a slot WR.

However, the Jaguars already have one. Well, two, really.

Christian Kirk ran from the interior on 75.5% of his routes last season, and Evan Engram operated from the slot on 41.6% of his routes. Both were top 3 in yards per route run (YPRR) with Trevor Lawrence, and Calvin Ridley's presence only further drives those two to the inside.

Washington will factor in as a rotation piece with unpredictable week-to-week value unless an injury occurs. 

Way-too-early 2023 redraft rank: Waiver wire target

Summary

Parker Washington is an early declare out of Penn State. Standing at 5’10 and 204lbs, Washington ran a 4.49 40-yard dash and finished his career at Penn State with 1,920 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Pros

Contested Catch Magnet

Parker Washington burst onto the Big Ten scene as a true freshman, wasting no time in showcasing his talent. He dazzled with a remarkable 19.9% target share and 6 touchdowns, both career highs, culminating in an impressive 96th-percentile breakout age.

Washington’s greatest asset lies in his exceptional body control. He has a remarkable ability to contort his body mid-air to adjust to the football, making jaw-dropping catches look easy. 

Parker Washington

Penn State wide receiver Parker Washington (3) celebrates in the end zone after scoring on a 58-yard reception in the second quarter against Ohio State at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in State College. 

Washington is fearless, consistently attacking the ball in traffic. Ranking second in the class with a 71.4% contested catch rate, Parker plays bigger than he truly is.

Washington also returned punts for Penn State, where he showed off his vision in the open field. While he lacks suddenness, he can make up for it by understanding angles and his ability to run through contact. 

Do you see late-round upside with Washington in best ball formats? You can start drafting him today on Underdog Fantasy and get a 100% deposit match of up to $100 by signing up for a new account below.

Cons

Subpar Athlete

An undersized X receiver, Parker is a marginal athlete, below average route runner, and relies on his ability to make spectacular catches that may not translate to the next level.

His 30.5-inch vertical jump was just an 18th percentile score, and that lack of explosiveness is obvious when you throw on the tape. He lacks that initial first step when running routes, leaving defenders consistently in his hip pocket.

There are multiple ways to win, but making catches in traffic and using body control to create separation at the catch point is difficult to pull off consistently in the NFL. If he doesn’t improve his route running or struggles to continue to win this way at the next level, he could be a replacement-level player.

While Washington broke out early, he never built off that momentum in his sophomore and junior year. His yards per reception, target share, and touchdowns in the first nine games of his career were all his best marks at Penn State.

Fantasy Impact

Draft capital will determine his relevance in fantasy. A super rookie model rank of 17th leaves much to be desired. 

At one point this offseason, Washington had a consensus ranking in the 70s, making him a fringe second-round pick. He has since tanked with a current consensus ranking of 155, making him a 5th-round projection.

He is one of the youngest receivers in the draft, with an elite breakout age (18.5), from a power five school - someone in your league is going to hype him up, but without the draft capital, let him be their headache.

Another way to avoid a headache? Signing up for BetMGM and taking advantage of their First Bet Offer. You can get up to $1,000 paid back in bonus bets if your first bet does not win, taking the headache out of your first bet. Sign up and start betting below.

Parker Washington