Andy Isabella 2019 Outlook - Speed to Burn
6 years agoComing from a small school who hasn’t had success in anything since Marcus Camby left, it was more than a surprise Andy Isabella was drafted as high as he was. As they say, it only takes one team to fall in love with a player and this time it was the Arizona Cardinals. With 2019 likely the last season for Larry Fitzgerald in the NFL, Isabella landed in a great spot for his future. He will not only have a chance to learn slowly but he will be mentored by one of the best receivers of all time.
After being a star on the outside, Fitzgerald has moved to the slot and retained his greatness through the final years of his hall of fame career. For Isabella, this is a gift from the heavens. His ability to learn from Fitzgerald not only on, but off the field, is special.
At 5’9" and 185 pounds, he is not the biggest guy. But his 4.31 speed makes up for his lack of size. In his final two seasons at Massachusetts, Isabella had a combined 167 receptions for 2,718 yards and 23 touchdowns. Many compare him to Wes Welker or Julian Edelman but for a throwback how about Don Beebe with the 1990’s Bills teams? Gritty, hard working and fast. This is what you will get from Isabella. But not this year.
This season, as Fitzgerald finishes up his career it will be a learning season. Christian Kirk, Hakeem Butler, and David Johnson will be the Cards to take a chance on in fantasy. For redraft, Isabella is at best a WR6 in the deepest of leagues. In 12-team leagues, this is not an option. As for dynasty leagues, a second-round pick could pay off big in coming years. He has the ability to be a 100-catch receiver for a long time. This makes him a great buy for a team trying to build young. For an established win-now team he may not be the perfect fit. But for teams who are building for the future, Isabella's outlook is as bright as the Phoenix sun.