19 catches and one touchdown in 10 games.  Yuck.  Those are Roy Williams totals as a member of the Dallas Cowboys last season after being acquired via trade.  Disappointing to say the least, for Cowboys fans and fantasy owners alike.  However, this is a new year and you can’t deny that Williams has a platinum opportunity in 2009 and beyond.  I'm going to tell you reasons to believe he will succeed this season.
 
First, I want to give you my take on the man in general.  I used to be obsessed with Roy as a player because of his sick combo of size, skill set, and pedigree.  When Mike Martz signed with Detroit, like most I believed it was a match made in fantasy heaven.  Roy and Martz delivered in year-one together as the WR had 82 grabs, 1310 yards, and seven TDs in '06.  I believed Williams was going to make the leap to elite status the following year, but injuries, mental lapses, and frustration with Martz's play calling happened instead.  As a Lion, Roy became known more for guaranteeing wins, signaling first downs in blowouts, and not tipping pizza delivery guys instead of becoming an elite ballplayer. 
 
Let's face it, Roy is a class clown-type of guy and ever since he let me down in '07, I've been cautious with him from a fantasy standpoint.  I still question whether or not he wants to be great and this year will go a long way in answering that question one way or the other.  At 27 years old, he certainly has all the physical tools necessary and I’m optimistic about him as a Cowboy, despite last year's dismal stats.  Here are my reasons why:
 
1. Time- Wide receiver is arguably the most difficult skill position to change teams and have immediate statistical success.  It's difficult to change teams in the offseason (unless your name is T.O.), let alone in the middle of a season like Roy.  A wideout needs time to learn the playbook/routes, and get on the same page with the quarterback.  Sure, you would think he'd still have more than 19 catches, but it is what it is.  Meanwhile, this offseason Williams and Tony Romo have put in time working together to build chemistry.  With T.O. gone and Dallas ' recent playoff failures, both Williams AND Romo know that it's a make-or-break season.
 
2. Something to Prove- As mentioned above, it’s make-or-break time.  In addition to putting in work with his QB, Williams has made the first conscious weight room effort of his entire career believe it or not.  In the process, he has slimmed down in effort to help his team and prove doubters wrong. 
 
Also, remember that Williams was born and raised in Texas, where it’s every kid’s dream to wear a star on the side of their helmet.  Williams LIVED the Varsity Blues/Friday Night Lights football lifestyle in high school and had a nice college career at Texas.  Now it’s time to be the go-to-guy on the grandest stage in all of Texas, so he’ll be motivated for sure.  Plus he has to prove that Jerry Jones was wise to invest in him.  If Roy can’t succeed in his hometown then where can he succeed?
 
3. Law of Averages- If you take Roy’s per game average stats in his Lions career and project those to 16 games, you get 70 catches, 1035 yards, and 8 TDs.  Essentially those are his stats per 16 games in a Lions uniform.  He’s been injured at times, having only played one 16-game season in his career, but you get my point.

Terrell Owens average stats the past two years with a full-time Romo and Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett are 77 catches, 1242 yards, and 13 TDs.

Williams obviously is not T.O., but he can still be dangerous as the No. 1 WR in this offense.  You’ve got to figure Roy’s numbers will be somewhere in between his average and T.O.’s average.  Just for reference, when you average the two it comes out to 74/1138/11.  I’d say Roy’s floor is 1000 yards and 7-8 touchdowns with obvious potential for more, so what’s not to like?  After all, he scored 8 TDs in each of his first two seasons in the league and is due to pass that mark.  His improved work ethic, renewed focus, and hulky situation will only help.

Note: I did not include Roy's 10 Cowboys games in any averages because of the degree of difficulty in the trade transition.
 
Conclusion- Roy is worth the risk, so draft him in the 4th round as your WR2 with WR1 potential.  If you go RB-heavy and draft three hulky running backs the first three rounds, grab Roy as your No. 1 since he offers WR1 pop (upside).  He definitely deserves to be picked ahead of T.J. Housh, Antonio Bryant, and Wes Welker (standard league) to name a few.