| Year |
Team |
Gms |
Plays |
Car |
Rush
Yards |
YPC |
Rush
TDs |
Fum |
Targets |
Catch |
Catch
Yards |
Catch
TDs |
Total
Yards |
Total
TDs |
100+ Yard
Gms |
1+ TD
Gms |
| 2004 |
PIT |
6 |
39 |
32 |
186 |
5.8 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
3 |
16 |
0 |
202 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| 2005 |
PIT |
15 |
281 |
255 |
1202 |
4.7 |
4 |
0 |
26 |
18 |
218 |
1 |
1420 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
| 2006 |
PIT |
16 |
380 |
337 |
1494 |
4.4 |
13 |
5 |
43 |
31 |
222 |
3 |
1716 |
16 |
8 |
10 |
| |
Avg |
12 |
233 |
208 |
961 |
4.6 |
6 |
2 |
25 |
17 |
152 |
1 |
1113 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
| 2006 Game Logs |
| Wk |
Opp |
Car |
RYd |
RTD |
Cat |
CYd |
CTD |
| 1 |
MIA |
29 |
115 |
|
3 |
13 |
|
| 2 |
@JAX |
11 |
20 |
|
3 |
6 |
|
| 3 |
CIN |
31 |
133 |
2 |
1 |
13 |
|
| 5 |
@SD |
14 |
57 |
1 |
3 |
26 |
|
| 6 |
KC |
21 |
109 |
2 |
1 |
-11 |
|
| 7 |
@ATL |
20 |
47 |
|
|
|
|
| 8 |
@OAK |
22 |
83 |
|
2 |
28 |
1 |
| 9 |
DEN |
14 |
70 |
1 |
7 |
67 |
1 |
| 10 |
NO |
22 |
213 |
2 |
2 |
12 |
|
| 11 |
@CLE |
16 |
46 |
1 |
4 |
17 |
1 |
| 12 |
@BAL |
10 |
22 |
|
2 |
15 |
|
| 13 |
TB |
22 |
61 |
|
1 |
25 |
|
| 14 |
CLE |
32 |
223 |
1 |
|
|
|
| 15 |
@CAR |
23 |
132 |
1 |
|
|
|
| 16 |
BAL |
13 |
29 |
|
|
|
|
| 17 |
@CIN |
37 |
134 |
2 |
2 |
11 |
|
| 2005 Game Logs
|
| Wk |
Opp |
Car |
RYd |
RTD |
Cat |
CYd |
CTD |
| 1 |
TEN |
22 |
161 |
1 |
1 |
48 |
0 |
| 2 |
@HOU |
25 |
111 |
1 |
|
|
|
| 3 |
NE |
17 |
55 |
0 |
1 |
-6 |
0 |
| 5 |
@SD |
10 |
26 |
|
1 |
14 |
|
| 6 |
JAX |
21 |
55 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
| 7 |
@CIN |
18 |
131 |
1 |
|
|
|
| 8 |
BAL |
14 |
63 |
|
2 |
18 |
|
| 9 |
@GB |
5 |
13 |
|
1 |
10 |
|
| 11 |
@BAL |
18 |
59 |
|
2 |
22 |
1 |
| 12 |
@IND |
12 |
43 |
|
4 |
23 |
|
| 13 |
CIN |
15 |
71 |
|
1 |
11 |
|
| 14 |
CHI |
21 |
68 |
|
2 |
45 |
|
| 15 |
@MIN |
14 |
81 |
|
2 |
16 |
|
| 16 |
@CLE |
17 |
130 |
1 |
|
|
|
| 17 |
DET |
26 |
135 |
|
1 |
17 |
|
| 2004 Game Logs
|
| Wk |
Opp |
Car |
RYd |
RTD |
Cat |
CYd |
CTD |
| 9 |
PHI |
3 |
14 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
| 10 |
@CLE |
8 |
44 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
| 12 |
WAS |
0 |
|
|
0 |
0 |
|
| 13 |
@JAX |
1 |
12 |
|
1 |
12 |
|
| 14 |
NYJ |
1 |
14 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
| 17 |
BAL |
19 |
102 |
|
2 |
4 |
|
2007 Outlook
With Jerome Bettis gone last year, Parker quickly dispelled the notion that he was just a yardage back and not capable of the tougher goal line runs. He ended 2006 with 1494 rushing yards (6th best in the NFL) and 13 rushing touchdowns (tied for 4th best). He even added three more scores via receptions despite only catching 31 passes for 222 yards. Parker was the complete back with the ability to break the long gainers at any time.
The offense will be changing at least a bit this year with WR-coach Bruce Arians promoted up to offensive coordinator but that should not have a huge impact on Parker. Arians was the OC in Cleveland for three years and never had a running back gain more than 887 yards or score more than half a dozen times but he never had the offensive line of the Steelers or Willie Parker. One oddity to consider with Parker is the difference between his play at home or on the road. When he was at home, he turned in five games over 100 yards and averaged around 120 yards per game. On the road, he only averaged 68 rushing yards and that was with two 130 yard games in Carolina and Cincinnati. He had four road efforts with less than 50 rushing yards but only had that happen once at home (against BAL).
Parker’s role won’t change with the new coaches if only because he is clearly the most successful weapon that the Steelers have. The Steelers rushing schedule isn’t the best but then again it is really no different than last year. Parker moves down a notch or so in reception point leagues but remember that his fine 2006 season came when he was given the full-time starting role for the first time. Now that he has a year of experience, he may just smooth out that road rushing problem and be even better.
Recent Priority News
10/03/08
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Willie Parker (knee) has been ruled out of the team's Week 5 game.
Huddle Up: The Steelers will utilize Mewelde Moore and newly acquired Najeh Davenport in Week 5 to handle the rushing duties. Both could be used as a No. 3 running back or flex position player if you are desperate for running back help this week. The matchup with Jacksonville makes this a little more enticing over some other waiver wire choices at the running back position.
10/02/08
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Willie Parker (knee) missed the team's practice Thursday, Oct. 2, and he is out for Week 5. Head coach Mike Tomlin said Parker could play Week 7.
Huddle Up: Parker continues to be hampered by a knee injury and leaves the Steelers with a depleted running back core. In the interim, Pittsburgh has acquired RB Najeh Davenport as a free agent to go with the multi-purpose Mewelde Moore. Look for Pittsburgh to utilize both runners this week. Moore will likely be the change of pace back with Davenport also seeing opportunities especially around the goal line. Both should be considered by fantasy owners as No. 3 running backs in Week 5.
09/30/08
ESPNews reports Pittsburgh Steelers RB Willie Parker (knee) is not expected to play in Week 5.
Huddle Up: With the team on bye next week this is not a real surprise. With Mendenhall likely to go on IR this week the Steelers will have to roll with veteran Mewelde Moore as their starter and little used Carey Davis as his backup.
09/24/08
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Willie Parker (knee) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 24. He will not play in the team's Week 4 game.
Huddle Up: With Parker out of action on Monday night against Baltimore, rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall will get the first start of his young career. Mendenhall has looked good carrying the ball in limited action but has been battling some fumble problems early on. Fantasy owners should watch and see how the rookie performs this week but don't consider starting him against a strong Ravens defensive unit.
09/23/08
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Willie Parker (knee) will not play in the team's Week 4 game with a left knee sprain. Head coach Mike Tomlin did not say how much time Parker will miss, but he did list him as 'week-to-week.' Parker suffered the injury late in the team's Week 3 game.
Huddle Up: Look for the Steelers to give rookie Rashard Mendenhall the start this week and to work veteran Mewelde Moore into the mix more. This development could also result in Ben Roethlisberger having more chances to throw. Considering how beat up Roethlisberger has been the last few weeks, that may not be a good thing. If you have another viable option at quarterback, think seriously about using it.
09/15/08
The Associated Press reports Pittsburgh Steelers RB Willie Parker had 28 carries for 105 rushing yards Week 2.
Huddle Up: Throw out the Rams game last year in which Parker broke his leg and that's four straight 100-yard rushing efforts for Parker. It took Willie 28 carries in Week 2 due in part to field conditions and defenses stacked at the line because the weather made passing difficult, but 100 yards is still 100 yards. Perhaps more notable was the lack of a single carry for Rashard Mendenhall, the first round pick who threatened to take touches off of Willie's workload.
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