Examining the Robert Foster breakout

Foster has burst on the scene the past five weeks, accumulating 438 yards receiving and two touchdowns on 23 targets.

So I wanted to take a deep dive into Foster not so much for this year, but for next season.

I listed the targets because I felt that was more important in this study than the catches at this point with Foster.

The rookie wide receiver now leads the NFL in yards per reception with a robust 24.6 average.

So who is this undrafted first-year wide out?

Well, Foster is a former five-star recruit, the No. 1 WR prospect for the class of 2013.

He had an injury riddled career at Alabama, including a separated shoulder his sophomore year when he appeared poised to break out -- Foster had eight catches for 100 yards and 2 TDs in the Tide's first two games in 2015 before the injury.

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"People forget," Kiffin said. "As great as Calvin Ridley was last year ... Calvin was actually backing Robert up last year until Robert got hurt."

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Foster checks a lot of boxes when you look at his athletic profile.

Size? Measured 6'2, 196 at the NFL combine.

Speed? Oh yeh. Foster ran 4.41 at the combine and has been clocked even faster before.

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One of the Tide's fastest players, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Foster ran the 40-yard dash in 4.34 seconds during Alabama's spring testing last year.

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Foster also ranked in the top 10 for WRs in the short shuttle at last year's NFL combine -- so he has some quick twitch to his game and not just long speed.



Foster is also being lauded by coaches (remember Brian Daboll saw him all last season in T-Town) and teammates for his high work ethic. Allen and McDermott talk Foster

His breakout kind of reminds me of Stefon Diggs' from a few years ago -- heralded recruits who went late in drafts or undrafted.

However, a major difference in the two is age. Foster is just three months younger than Diggs, and the Vikings WR had his breakout in the 2015 season.

Also a hindrance, how much do we trust Josh Allen and the Bills offense?

While there are some red flags surrounding Foster, I believe the upside (a top 20-24 WR) is there for him to be more than just a dart throw in next year's fantasy drafts.