Bills' Robert Foster Could Be 2019 Sleeper at Wide Receiver

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Almost every great fantasy football team needs its fair share of sleepers, or the players who will outperform their expectations, as a late-round pick. One trend suggests that Buffalo Bills wide receiver Robert Foster could be the sleeper that your team needs for the 2019 NFL fantasy football season.

Scooping up Foster for this year's fantasy football season could bode well for owners that are willing to invest a late-round pick on him. Every single wide receiver since 2013 that has finished as the rookie league leader for yards per route run has had at least one six-touchdown season after their rookie year and three of the five players have earned Pro Bowl honors.

Foster saw limited action in 2018, starting just three games, but he appeared in 13 games and, as the season went on, he showcased his ability to impact the game as a wide receiver who can stretch the field. Foster averaged 20.0 yards per reception with a long of 75 yards and a catch-percentage of 61.4-percent, which is impressive for a downfield threat.

For comparison's sake, DeSean Jackson, one of the most dangerous downfield receivers in recent history, has only had one season (2013) in his career with a higher catch-percentage than 61.4.

Foster should also benefit from Buffalo adding depth at wide receiver to its roster this offseason. The Bills signed John Brown, another deep threat to run opposite Foster, to a three-year, $27 million deal as well as former Cowboys slot man Cole Beasley to a four-year, $29 million deal. These additions should create more space for Foster to run both intermediate and deep routes.

This is a drastic improvement from Buffalo's 2018 receiving corps that was led in catches (56), targets (102), receiving yards (652) and receiving touchdowns (7), by second-year wide out Zay Jones.

Although these offseason additions could be beneficial for Foster long-term, it is possible that it takes a few weeks to find consistent production. Second-year quarterback Josh Allen has a few new mouths to feed and there are often growing pains associated with these kinds of transitions. Fantasy owners might need to be patient if they want to see the dividends of investing in Foster.

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