Buffalo Bills: Robert Foster went from undrafted to top target
The Buffalo Bills took on Robert Foster as an undrafted free agent. Months later he has emerged as a focal point on offense.
The release of Kelvin Benjamin seemingly made Zay Jones the number one receiver for the Buffalo Bills.
But Jones has not had back-to-back 100-yard performances and he is not averaging nearly 25 yards per reception. Those stats belong to Robert Foster.
Foster, undrafted out of Alabama, had another huge game on Sunday. He caught four balls for 108 yards and had the go-ahead touchdown in the win over the Detroit Lions. This came one week after he had 104 receiving yards in the loss to the New York Jets.
It seems like the Bills have found something in Foster.
.@buffalobills rookie WR Robert Foster had his third 100-yard game today. Already has more yards (468) than in 4 years at @AlabamaFTBL (389). OC Brian Daboll is getting way more out of him in Buffalo than he did in Tuscaloosa. Sometimes players just need the right opportunity. pic.twitter.com/zpagKC6B0V
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) December 16, 2018
He has established himself as a reliable deep threat, and it seems like he only makes big plays and doesn’t have time for short receptions. This stat backs up that belief:
Robert Foster entered today’s game leading the NFL in yards per reception with 24.0.
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) December 16, 2018
With his 4 catch, 108 yard day he has raised his league-lead to 24.6 YPR.
The crazy thing is that Foster only has receptions in six games this season. In total, he has 19 receptions for 468 yards and two touchdowns. Jones is barely ahead of Foster with 492 receiving yards, and that has come on 45 receptions.
Eight of Foster’s 19 receptions have gone for more than 20 yards and 16 have gone for a first down. Every time his name is announced a big play is taking place.
Foster has benefitted by having Josh Allen at quarterback and the two will now have a whole offseason to work together. The Bills should try to bring in a true number one receiver, but regardless of what happens Foster is going to be a key contributor next season.
As for the rest of this season, Foster is on pace to finish as the team’s leading receiver as he looks to reach the 500-yard mark next week.
Jones should also reach that mark next week, but the second-year player is not having the best of seasons. He has yet to reach 100 yards in a game and has only gone over the 50-yard mark four times this year.
Next. Bills hold on for fun win over the Lions. dark
That is why Foster’s breakout year is so refreshing. Without hope from the rookie, fans may be wondering if there is any hope at the receiver position for 2019. Foster has provided that hope and more as he continues to make highlight-reel catches here in the latter half of the season.