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Draft Dolphins WRs DeVante Parker, Preston Williams or both in fantasy?

Preston Williams is crowd-sourcing Miami Dolphins fans for a nickname that will perfectly fit the duo he forms with fellow receiver DeVante Parker.

The 6-foot-3 Parker and 6-foot-5 Williams are both jump-ball specialists who give the Dolphins a rare sight at their starting outside receiver positions.

This time last season, Williams was the out-of-nowhere surprise -- an undrafted free agent who became a Week 1 starter, and Parker was the beleaguered veteran whose first-round draft expectations have been questioned. But the 2019 season for both players dismissed any questions.

The Parker-Williams duo, entering Year 2 together, has the potential to be something special, and the yet-to-be-determined nicknamed could catch on should the on-field results match.

"Hopefully we can find one or the fans give us a nickname or something," Williams said. "Hopefully we'll get one."

Parker and Williams have been the co-stars of Dolphins' training camp, routinely making highlight catches over Byron Jones and Noah Igbinoghene and the rest of the Dolphins' top defensive backs. It's a pick-your-poison receiver combination that seems sure to leave one of them in single coverage.

Through the first eight games in 2019, Parker and Williams each totaled 400-plus yards and they did it on the NFL's worst offense. But with better offensive line play, better quarterback play and a more open offense in 2020, the encore could be better than the original.

"Preston is one of our big guys. We both have big-play ability down the field, and we feed off of one another," Parker said. "I see him make a big catch, and I'm going to come out and make a big catch also. That's just how we do it."

The big question for Parker and Williams has been whether they can stay healthy, and each has acknowledged that playing a full season is at the top of their goals. Parker played 16 games for the first time in his career in 2019 and finished fifth with 1,202 receiving yards with nine touchdowns -- both career-highs.

Williams tore his ACL in Week 9 fielding a punt, which brought his impressive rookie season to an abrupt halt. He was fourth among rookies with 428 receiving yards at that time trailing Seattle's DK Metcalf, Washington's Terry McLaurin and Tennessee's AJ Brown.

Williams was cleared to return once training camp began, and it appeared he regained the chemistry he showed with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2019.

"Preston is very unique, just in terms of his physical qualities -- the height, the weight, the speed, how nimble he is, all that stuff, his ability to track the ball -- and having to sit out, you always kind of look for the silver lining or maybe the positives in a situation that isn't so positive; so him getting hurt last year, he was also just able to take a step back and watch a little bit and learn the game a little bit more," Fitzpatrick said.

"His confidence is high right now and that's important for those guys, and rightfully so because he's playing really well."

Williams has been on a load-management plan, which means he misses a day or two of practice to rehab his knee each week. He is expected to play Week 1 at New England, but it's unclear whether his snaps will be limited. Either way, Williams doesn't think Year 1 was a good representation of what he can be as a receiver.

"Last year, I was just getting my feet wet. Just improve as a player from last year. A lot of the balls I could've caught, I've got to catch those and make those plays," said Williams, who had 32 catches for 428 yards and three touchdowns. "Overall, just be a better player. The game slowed down a little bit to me, so I think I'll have a better year this year."

As for Parker, he's trying not to change the mindset that led to his breakout 2019 season and he is embracing his role as a leader, even with his reserved personality.

"The fact that he was healthy last year and had all of that success, it's beautiful to see this year that he's now more vocal. Guys gravitate to that. The young guys that are around, they see that. They see the way he works," Dolphins receivers coach Josh Grizzard said of Parker. "He now understands, I think more than ever, that not only is your job to get open and catch the ball, but if it's a concept that you need to go get doubled or you need to be in this spot to open it up for the next guy, he understands that side of it, too."

Parker has been dealing with a minor undisclosed injury that has kept him out of Dolphins' practice for a week. It's something to keep an eye on headed into Week 1, though he has been riding a stationary bike at practices and the team doesn't appear worried.

Parker and Williams each brought up how coordinator Chan Gailey's offense will be flexible in allowing them to move around the field and try creative releases off the line, creating more playmaking opportunities for the yet-to-be-named duo.

Fantasy football perspective

If Parker can stay healthy, he should be an every-week starter in your lineup as a WR3/flex or better. From Week 3 on in 2019, Parker scored the third-most fantasy points among receivers.

It's worth noting the Dolphins lost seven straight games to start the 2019 season and they shuffled back-and-forth between Fitzpatrick and backup Josh Rosen. Parker averaged 16.1 points per game with Fitzpatrick as the starter compared to 12.5 with Rosen. Parker's average draft position (ADP) in ESPN leagues is WR28 or pick No. 76. While he won't get the massive target share he received over the second half of the season when Williams was out, Parker should still be considered a top-25 fantasy receiver.

Williams' ADP in ESPN leagues is WR47 or pick No. 133, so he's a steal value as a WR5/WR6. Williams was WR37 in ADP averaging 11.4 points per game -- and the Dolphins' leading receiver -- through Week 9 last season. He averaged 13.3 points per game in games that Fitzpatrick started compared to 8.2 per game when Rosen started.

Williams is my No. 1 sleeper this season, if he can still be considered that, and no-doubt a top-40 receiver.

The Dolphins' offense should flow through Parker and Williams, both of whom have great chemistry with Fitzpatrick and especially after the Dolphins' two most veteran receivers Albert Wilson and Allen Hurns opted out of the season because of coronavirus concerns. Tight end Mike Gesicki might get more run in the slot, but he has been very quiet thus far in camp.

If it's about value, Williams is a better bet than Parker at their current ADPs. Either way, it's a duo worth pursuing, particularly when you can land Parker as a WR3/WR4 and Williams as a WR5/6. If either misses time, the other sees their value shoot up significantly.