By now I'm sure we've all heard the unfortunate news: Willie Parker will sit out Monday Night's game against the Ravens.
I'll admit, the first word that came to mind upon hearing this was “disaster.” Aside from falling into the team-wide offensive cataclysm against Philadelphia, Parker's had an amazing year. It goes without saying that he'll be missed against Baltimore's aggressive defense.
But unless Parker's on your Fantasy team, it might not be time to panic just yet. What about this kid Rashard Mendenhall? You know, the Steelers' first round pick? Supposedly a steal at number 23? A kid with a lethal combination of quickness and power, and an excellent kick returner to boot? Monday's going to be his first NFL start, and probably our first real look at what he can do at the pro level. There's hardly been enough material to judge by so far: 17 regular-season touches combined with a shaky, fumble-prone preseason hasn't painted much of a picture.
