Andy Isabella: 2020 Dynasty Profile

Past Production

Here are Andy Isabella’s full NFL stats.

The Cardinals drafted Isabella with the 62nd overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. Isabella played college ball at Massachusetts, an independent team in FBS. Even though Massachusetts is a smaller school, Isabella received NFL attention when he caught 102 passes for 1,698 yards and 13 touchdowns in his senior year.

The Cardinals needed a speedy wide receiver to complement veteran Larry Fitzgerald and second-year player Christian Kirk. They also picked Hakeem Butler and KeeSean Johnson in the same draft, giving them additional options at the receiver position. Isabella was their first choice, though, giving him an inside track to a starting job in 2019.

However, Isabella only played a limited role as a rookie. He averaged fewer than one target/game, although he was incredibly efficient on his few touches. Isabella had 21 yards/reception during his rookie season, but he made almost no impact on the Cardinals’ offense. Fitzgerald, Kirk, Johnson, Damiere Byrd, and even Pharoh Cooper had more targets than Isabella in 2019.

Considering that head coach Kliff Kingsbury handpicked Isabella in his first draft, I think Isabella’s usage let down most dynasty owners. Then, the Cardinals traded for DeAndre Hopkins, pushing Isabella further down the target pecking order. Fitzgerald also returned for another season in 2020, making Isabella an afterthought.

2020 Performance and Outlook

Going into 2020, I had little to no hope for Isabella. With Hopkins on the roster, Isabella was the fourth wide receiver behind Hopkins, Kirk, and Fitzgerald. Even though the Cardinals run some 4WR sets, they moved away from that offense near the end of 2019, using Maxx Williams, Dan Arnold, and Charles Clay as tight ends. Therefore, Isabella was far outside my draftable range for the wide receiver position.

However, in Week 3, Kirk suffered an injury, allowing Isabella to step into a more significant role. The Cardinals still didn’t use Isabella as a starter, playing a base 12 offense. Isabella rotated in as the slot receiver with a 40% snap share, but he caught all four of his targets for 47 yards and two touchdowns. While I loved to see Isabella flash in Week 3, I don’t project him to be fantasy-viable throughout 2020 without multiple long-term injuries on the Cardinals’ depth chart. Once Kirk returns to the lineup, Kirk, Isabella, and Fitzgerald will split targets behind Hopkins. Hopkins is a target monster, leaving only scraps for the other receivers.

Dynasty Analysis

Even though Isabella probably won’t do much in 2020, I love him as a long-term dynasty stash. Fitzgerald will likely retire after the 2020 season, and Kirk is losing his appeal in his third season. Therefore, Isabella has a path to the #2 WR role behind Hopkins in 2021, a fantasy-relevant role in the Cardinals’ pass-happy offense.

I wouldn’t recommend paying up for Isabella, but he’s now worth a third-round rookie pick. Given the uncertainty surrounding the 2021 draft class, I would be fine sending that type of draft capital to acquire Isabella. You’re not going to find this type of talent on a potent NFL offense in the third round next season. Make a move to acquire him now before he strings together multiple solid games.

Thanks for reading this article. You can find me on Twitter at @DFF_Karp. I love to interact with anyone in the community, so reach out at any time! I take fantasy questions and help with all formats, so keep sending those questions my way.