Three years ago, Willie Parker helped numerous fantasy football players win their leagues as he went from late-round find to 1,200-yard back. He was an even better steal in 2006. Many fantasy football players worried about whether he was big enough to be a goal line back, so he dropped in the drafts again. Those questions were answered as he set a Steelers record with 16 touchdowns including 13 rushing TDs.And then last year, he fell apart. It wasn't that Parker didn't still get plenty of yardage--1,494 yards isn't shabby--but he scored only two touchdowns. Combine that with the Steelers decision to draft Rashard Mendehall in the first round and once again this year there were plenty of worries about whether Mendenhall would steal carries and touchdowns.
In the first half against the Texans, Parker is erasing those concerns. He has two first-half rushing touchdowns, as many as he had last year. Mendenhall didn't come into the game until the middle of the second quarter, after Parker already had nine carries. Mendenhall will take some carries from Parker this year, but because of his fumble problems and his tendency to run high and chop his feet, he doesn't look ready to take over the goal line duties.
