Rookie Report Card: Baker Mayfield and Robert Foster
Each week throughout the season, I cover two rookies in the Rookie Report Card and try to always include the biggest performers from that particular week. On top of reviewing my expectations for each player coming into the league and covering how he’s performed at the NFL level to this point, I’ll actually give him a grade in three categories. Those categories are performance to date, 2018 potential and long term upside.
The series continues as we take a look at number one overall pick Baker Mayfield and undrafted free agent Robert Foster.
Baker Mayfield, QB CLE
Week 12 Stats: 19/26 passing, 258 yards, four touchdowns passes, zero interceptions
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Dynasty owners everywhere were all over the map on Mayfield during draft season. While many raved about his upside, there were others that swore his small stature (6’-1”. 215 pounds) and the fact he played in a spread offense were warning signs of a potential bust.
Personally, I fell towards the former of those two opinions.
Watching Mayfield deliver passes with incredible accuracy at Oklahoma was all it took for me to be on board with his potential as a pro. That accuracy along with a bulldog attitude, athleticism to avoid the rush and make room to deliver the ball, and his clutch playmaking in big games and in fourth quarters made me a big fan of the former Heisman winner. While many were comparing Mayfield to Doug Flutie, I saw a lot more Steve Young and Deshaun Watson when I watched him. And he hasn’t disappointed to this point.
Despite some to-be-expected growing pains (particularly for a rookie quarterback with Hue Jackson as his coach for the first half of the season), including seven interceptions and a pair of fumbles, Mayfield has impressed in each of his nine appearances. Whether it was his first appearance in relief in week three that led to a win, the 342-yard effort against the Ravens’ tough defense or the recent two game winning streak, Mayfield has shown exactly how dangerous he can be.
His week 12 effort against the Bengals may have been his best game yet. From the first drive of the game he was locked in, delivering the ball on time to the open receiver, using his underrated arm strength as well as touch when necessary, and showing his pinpoint accuracy all over the field.
Back-to-back plays in the late first quarter painted a perfect picture of Mayfield’s potential. Stepping up and through the pocket on both plays, he feathered a beautiful pass over coverage to Rashard Higgins on the first play for 24 yards – that set up a 13-yard strike on the move by Mayfield to Antonio Callaway in the back of the end zone for a score. The two plays were gorgeous. Complete control of the offense, instincts to feel the pressure, eyes down the field, footwork to square before using just the right velocity and incredible accuracy made them special.
I have no doubt Mayfield is a future QB1 in dynasty leagues. While I’m always slightly concerned when young quarterbacks have a change in coaching staff (particularly at quarterback coach and offensive quarterback, which is likely in Cleveland), I’m confident he’ll continue to progress.
If you’re not convinced Mayfield is a future star, go find the film of his throws against the Bengals on Sunday. Sure, it’s true Cincinnati is awful on the defensive side of the ball. But not a lot of quarterbacks can make those throws make it look that easy. I don’t do dynasty rankings but many of us at DLF do and he’s currently number 11 in consensus ranks. He should be ninth at the lowest behind Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Carson Wentz, Deshaun Watson, Jared Goff, Andrew Luck and possibly Russell Wilson and Cam Newton. Don’t be surprised if he’s in the top-five at this time next year.
Robert Foster, WR BUF
Week Eight Stats: two catches, 94 yards, one touchdown (three targets)
Foster spent his career at Alabama injured, without much playing time and completely overshadowed by much bigger names including Amari Cooper and Calvin Ridley. He originally got my attention as a devy prospect going into his freshman year but jumped back in front of me again in his sophomore season when he caught four passes for 50 yards and a touchdown against my beloved Badgers. Unfortunately however, that would turn out to be the best game of his college career.
Hauling in just 35 passes for 389 yards and three touchdowns over his five years on campus, Foster entered the 2018 draft as an afterthought, at least to some extent. But a strong 40-yard dash (4.41 seconds) at the scouting combine to go along with good size (6’-2”, 200 pounds) made him a developmental prospect to many.
Foster was highly regarded coming out of high school. As a five-star recruit, there were big expectations with the Crimson Tide. While he never reached the potential many thought he had, his brief flashes of speed and playmaking ability kept many of us moderately interested going into his final year on campus. Throughout his senior season when he finally got regular playing time, I watched and waited for a breakout that never came. In fact, he never caught more than three passes in a contest, despite making 14 appearances that included 13 starts.
Reports out of Tuscaloosa during his time on campus said Foster lacked an attention to detail and there were whispers his football intelligence wasn’t very high which kept him from running crisp routes, coming back to the quarterback with the ball in the air and hanging on to the football after the catch. To be honest, there wasn’t enough video of Foster running routes or with the ball in his hands during the draft process for me to confirm or deny any of that. I did notice he appeared to have a lack of killer instinct so many of us look for when watching receiver prospects, both when running routes and at the catch point. Often fading away when the ball arrives rather than attempting to make the catch at the highest point and slowing down mid-route when moving through traffic rather than running aggressively, he was maddening to watch considering his speed and size.
In April, Foster went undrafted but signed on with Buffalo to reunite with Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who was previously with the Crimson Tide. Since that point, Foster has slowly moved up the thin depth chart to the point he has now carved out a role in three wide receiver sets. And that role has picked up recently.
In his first six games, he played 27.5% of snaps, catching just two passes for 30 yards. In his last couple games however, he’s played just over 50% of the team’s snaps and posted five catches for 199 yards and a score.
In week 12, Foster caught just two passes but made the most of his chances with a 75-yard touchdown grab. On the play, he showed that deep speed, blazing through the Jaguars secondary and catching the ball over his shoulder before out-racing everybody to pay dirt.
Despite his recent success, Foster should only be rostered in deep leagues. Although he has the upside to be a deep threat and will have some opportunities down the stretch in 2018, it’s difficult to imagine the Bills not addressing the receiver position in the off-season so chances may be limited in 2019. If you have a roster spot available and Foster is a free agent, you could do worse. But I’d think twice before cutting an upside player for him.
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- League Tycoon: Dynasty Salary Cap Fantasy Football - December 15, 2023
- Final Dynasty Rookie Report Card: Wide Receivers, Part Two - March 22, 2023
- 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Offensive Player Dynasty Review - March 10, 2023
