If you’ve ever been a part of nightlife, chances are you’ve been to a club. The club is always extremely hyped up. The best place in town, always a good time had, exclusive! You get there. The music is loud, the libations are flowing, and people are dancing the night away. They’ve made movies and music dedicated to glorifying the life of clubbing. At the end of the night, though, come the scaries. The lights turn on, the party is over, and reality sets in. The escape is over. Micah Parsons is the NFL’s version of a club. The hype around him is real, and sometimes it is warranted, but when you break it down to the nitty-gritty, we see the reality of who he is. Overhyped, overplayed, and, dare I say, overrated.
Who is Micah Parsons?
Micah Parsons burst onto the scene as a first-round rookie in 2021, when he had arguably the best rookie season for a pass rusher this century. He compiled 83 total tackles, three forced fumbles, and 13 sacks, firmly placing himself in the best IDP edge rusher category in redraft and dynasty formats. He followed this season up with back-to-back seasons of 64+ tackles and 13+ sacks. Sprinkle in a few boom plays like forced fumbles and recoveries, and you have yourself an IDP edge rushing machine! He is now going into this season as arguably the highest-drafted player on defense, and he even has his NFL team fighting to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. Sounds like a popular club at the peak of its powers with the two-hour wait, right? Well, be warned, IDP managers. The lights are about to turn on, and the club loses all mystique when you can see.
What’s The Problem?
Call me old-fashioned, but I like a known commodity in fantasy football week-to-week. There’s more to this game than the sheer volume of points (yes, I am aware points win games). Consistency is how you win in IDP, and too often, Parsons has that game or two (or three) where he disappears. A bad game is a bad game. But bad stretches when you're being drafted as arguably the best player at your position or side of the ball is where we, as a collective, need to draw a line. Parsons went Weeks 3-6 with eight total tackles and one sack. The beginning of the year is when you would prefer a slump, but unfortunately for Parsons managers, this ugly trend also reared its head in Weeks 13-15. In this timeframe, he had six total tackles and one sack. So, in six games last season, he compiled 14 tackles and two sacks. This is a game played over 18 weeks, including a bye week. In seven of those weeks, Parsons wasn’t a starter-worthy player, but his draft capital/investment to have him requires you to play him weekly. If this was a no-name player, and he had seven weeks a year that you have a no-name effort, would you be so gung-ho to play him?
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Reality
Do I think Micah Parsons is a great player? Yes. He is a great NFL player, but as most people know, just because you're a great player in the NFL doesn’t make you a good fantasy football player. This is especially true on the IDP side. When you're an elite offensive player in the NFL, you're the focal point of a game plan and will be featured regularly. Now, what you do with the opportunities is on you, but they will be there. That, at times, is different from IDP. If you're an elite defensive player, the offense generally avoids you at all costs. Parsons has ascended to that level of defensive talent. His point totals will be better in leagues with QB pressures and hits. However, in traditional IDP league settings, he will disappear for weeks, and managers must have a plan for the lows in this valley. Don’t get me wrong, the big plays have happened thus far in his career, and his tackle numbers over the season are great. But when you look at the game-by-game breakdown of how he does, there are some concerning trends, and teams that aren’t deep enough to win with him can lose due to him.
He's Still Valuable
Parsons is arguably the most valuable player you could trade in IDP, and I think managers who aren’t contending now need to move him. He is still a great player, viewed highly by both media and fans, so you need to utilize this leverage and get a boatload for him. Do not undersell him. Although I am negative about his fantasy peaks and valleys, he will still fetch a pretty penny, which can improve your team, especially for what you should receive for him. Managers with a win-now mindset and the team to back him up, he’s the perfect player for you. Players like him are best suited on a team with other stars around him, so the blow is lessened if he fails, but the point ceiling is massive when he hits. It is up to you to understand your league’s scoring settings and your situation to understand how Parsons can affect your outcomes. The bottom line: unless you’re a top 2-3 team in the league, he’s too risky to have in your lineup in contending weeks.
Conclusion
So now that the music is off and the lights are on, you see the dirty aftermath of a thriving nightclub. It’s not as pretty without all the mystique and people talking about it. At the end of the day, it’s a big room full of people and furniture with loud music (those darned kids and their loud music). I can assure you I am not yelling at the clouds, old man; I am simply trying to help you win your league with unconventional strategies and maybe a dose of reality on the league's best players. Unfortunately for Micah Parsons, he is on the wrong side of this fantasy philosophy, but hey, if I am wrong, I'll come back someday and admit to all of the internet. The internet is full of accountability. Right?
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