Dynasty Database: Andre Roberts
To get you prepared for the 2011 season each week we'll be profiling a player every week who we think will be a great value come draft time, especially if you are in a dynasty/keeper league. Enjoy!
The Arizona Cardinals offense has a ton of questions coming into the 2011 season. The quarterback trio of John Skelton, Max Hall, and Derek Anderson was a disaster last season. Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower were extremely ineffective and now the team has added rookie Ryan Williams to an already crowded backfield. If there is any saving grace on the Cardinals offense it's their receiving corp. Of course Larry Fitzgerald is an All-World talent, Stephen Williams and Early Doucet are good role players but we really like Andre Roberts' chances of becoming a fantasy starin 2011.
If Steve Breaston does depart via free agency, Roberts will be the favorite to start opposite Fitzgerald. Chances are pretty high Arizona will purse Kyle Orton or Kevin Kolb once the lockout is officially lifted, which would cause his value to soar. Roberts has the quickness to gain consistent separation from defensive backs and with Fitz on the other side of the field he should see single coverage on almost every play. He's not the fastest receiver but from watching him last season he has a knack for getting open and making big catches.
The biggest knock on Roberts is his limited experience in the league and the quarterback situation in Arizona. Roberts is only entering his second year in the league and his limited opportunities in 2010 might not allow him to fully grasp the entire offense. Even if the team does acquire a starting quarterback the lockout will really shorten the time he has to learn a whole new offense. Even though we like Roberts' chances to blossom these are some things to consider.
Andre Roberts has a great upside entering the 2011 season. He is a deep sleeper that will probably be around until the last couple rounds of most drafts. It's very rare to land a #2 receiver at the very end of fantasy drafts but that's what you will get if things work out for Andre Roberts. He has the talent to flourish opposite a Pro Bowl receiver like Fitzgerald. Even if things don't work out Roberts is very low risk because he won't need to waste a middle round pick to get him. If things do work out, however, you might have a fantasy star on your hands.
Fearless Prediction: 65 catches, 925 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns
