Talk to me about Slot Receivers-All 32 (1 Viewer)

[Ministry of Pain]

Most teams run a 3 receiver set these days or they certainly have them for longer down and distance plays and sometimes they go 4-wide.

There are obvious teams that lean a little more on the run and operate in 2-WR sets with a TE set on the end and perhaps a FB or H-Back that could simply be another blocking TE.

I scrolled thru the depth charts and looked at the slot receivers across the league and there's a handful that appear to be really good or get the targets and reps needed to produce.

-Example is Cooper Kupp vs Curtis Samuel in Washington who is listed as their starting SWR and I will put a link that has them all listed pretty neatly and yo can scan down so i don't have to list them all.

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Kupp, Allen, JuJu, Renfrow, there's some excellent WRs that line up or work out of the slot but I don't know that what is listed on the depth chart is what actually unfolds during live action. I wanted to know if you seek out the slot receivers or if it even matters to you. I feel like the slot offers some special options for strong route running wideouts and a pair of sticky hands doesn't hurt either.

Some of the slot WRs listed do not seem like starting WRs to me, that's also something to think about.

-Also a good idea in DFS when you don't have a lot of money left to spend and want someone who might be matched up on a DB you can exploit.

 

[cloppbeast]

I feel like slot receivers are a little more valuable in ppr for their skill because they're tending to be employed for high percentage routes. Not that I'm taking Renfrow over Chase or anything.

I also don't think it's something to consider beyond the box score because it's already a part of the stats.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I feel like slot receivers are a little more valuable in ppr for their skill because they're tending to be employed for high percentage routes. Not that I'm taking Renfrow over Chase or anything.

I also don't think it's something to consider beyond the box score because it's already a part of the stats.

That's interesting. I would say half of the listed starting SWR around the NFL are not guys I want on my roster. Either the slot is not a well designed position in those offenses, code for low targets at SWR position, or they have weak QBs that can barely get the ball consistently to the WR1 on the team. The WR1 for some IS the SLOT like the LA Rams.

I do think the gifted ones that start in the slot are very enticing because they do more than just find big chunks, they tend to catch a lot of balls so even on a 6/75 day, you still have a double digit score to add into the box.

Chase, Kupp, Renfrow is not as talented but he now has Adams working the outside, he could have one of the most surprising years. I know the FFC loves Renfrow but not everybody at home knows who he is. 5th Rd, last year of his rookie deal, will want to put himself in position for that 2nd contract be it LVR or elsewhere in '23. 103/1038/9TDs...did he really post that last season?

 

[RenegadeRoy]

I feel like Cristian Kirk is a SWR who is getting criminally underrated going into this season. JAX is probably gonna be throwing a ton and not many other options there. The high volume should yield good numbers.

 

[Ilov80s]

Can’t have this thread and not mention Amon Ra. He was 6th in the NFL in slot snaps last year and other than Kupp and Keenan Allen, I’m not sure anyone was more productive from the slot.

 

[cloppbeast]

Can’t have this thread and not mention Amon Ra. He was 6th in the NFL in slot snaps last year and other than Kupp and Keenan Allen, I’m not sure anyone was more productive from the slot.

Amon-Ra is so much like those guys in the way he plays.

 

[King of the Jungle]

For the future…Kyle Phillips, TEN is one to keep an eye on. Run first offense could hurt production however.

 

[Ilov80s]

Can’t have this thread and not mention Amon Ra. He was 6th in the NFL in slot snaps last year and other than Kupp and Keenan Allen, I’m not sure anyone was more productive from the slot.

Amon-Ra is so much like those guys in the way he plays.

Yeah very easy to see him following in those foot steps. I was going to say except for Kupp’s nuclear mode we saw in 2021 but we basically saw ARSB go nuclear himself for those last 6 games.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

AFC East
BUF-McKenzie...he's 5-8
MIA-C.Wilson...distant memory at this point and he just got there
NE-J.Myers...Scores 2 TDs in 3 seasons and is considered their best weapon at WR
NYJ-G.Wilson(R)

AFC Central
BAL-James Proche: Your guess is as good as mine
CIN-T.Boyd: Distant 3rd or 4th option in the passing game but still talented. Did you know he has not one but TWO 1,000 yd seasons prior to Higgins and Chase showing up? 1,740 yds still the last 2 seasons combined and another 9 TDs on top. he is one of the most accomplished WRs we have glossed over in this section of the teams.
CLE-D.Bell(R)...not much to say about rookies until we see them play but with Brissett starting right now, this looks bleak.
PIT-Chase Claypool...dropped from 11 TD in '20 to just 2 last season with the same targets and production in terms of catches and yds.

AFC South
HOU-Chris Moore: No idea
Indy-Parris Campbell: Not enough targets but Matt Ryan does like to throw to his SWR
JAX-Christian Kirk: Stands out when you look at many of the other names starting around the league. Talented WRs seem to operate well in the slot and others seem to be put there as an afterthought.
Westbrook/Phillips: We're not sure who the actual starting SWR is just yet.

AFC West...loaded with names
DEN-KJ Hamler: Slight upgrade at QB
KC-JuJu: Seems like a great pairing with Mahomes. Had a 67% catch rate, almost 1500 yds and 7TDs in 2018, 2nd season and long before Ben was toast. 6-1/215, he ain't small.
LVR-Renfrow: A perfect place for him to set up. He will have Adams on the outside drawing the safety help, leaves Renfrow alone 1 on 1 much of the time.
LAC-K.Allen: Perhaps the most impressive of any AFC WR that lines up a lot in the slot.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

NFC East
DAL-CDLamb: Excellent vs many of the starting wideouts you see listed on the depth charts under this position.
NYG-Shepard: Has had his moments but not lately
PHI-Quez Watkins: Does this mean Philly lines up more in 2 WR sets? I really don't know but so many names listed in the SWR we never hear from during the year.
WAS-Curtis Samuel: Somebody always gets roped into trying to start him a few times. Missed most of last year, played under Rivera in Carolina and Washington now.

NFC Central
CHI-B.Pringle: Bears Air Raid got you excited?
DET-Amon Brown: Almost 1,000 yds and 6 TDs as a Rookie, he ahs a chance to rise towards the top this season.
GB-Cobb: Sizzle is better than the steak
MN-KJ Osborn: I like this guy and am excited they are throwing the ball more. Not worried about the rookie or Reagor who they traded for.

NFC South...almost nobody you want to wheel out every week
ATL-Zaccheaus: 5-8 and has done largely nothing when you stare at his career stats.
CAR-T.Marshall: Was hyped as a rookie, see if he can make some noise his 2nd year. Shenault was traded for and might unseat him in this position early on in the season.
NO-J.Landry: Sizzle is better than the actual hamburger
TB-R.Gage/J.Jones: Depends on which one is starting and getting targets behind Evans and Godwin.

NFC West
AZ-R.Moore: 2nd season and will have early season Opps/Targets rise with Hopkins Suspended
LAR-C.Kupp: Best in the Business
SF-J.Jennings: 3rd or 4th option perhaps in SF, maybe even further down the options
SEA-D.Eskridge: 5-9, 2nd season, playing behind a couple Studs and having QB challenges.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Find yourself a site that has alignment snaps. Super valuable.

Slot receivers are cool but I’m also interesting in how often TEs and RBs line up at the wr spots.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Dallas - I think Pollard lines up in the slot for a significant portion of their snaps.

 

[cloppbeast]

AFC East
BUF-McKenzie...he's 5-8

Overlooking Crowder here, the exact type of receiver to target as an afterthought. He's been a lot more productive than McKenzie so far in his career without being much older either; albeit on teams without much competition. I think it's fair to assume Crowder is pencilled in as an upgrade to Beasley for the slot role.

Edit, looks like he's literally not pencilled in as the replacement for Beasley as he's listed behind McKenzie on the depth chart.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Dallas - I think Pollard lines up in the slot for a significant portion of their snaps.

46 or 49 receiver snaps (out of 376) - sources vary.

He wasn’t very effective in that role. Very few RBs were last year but might be an anomaly. Basically it was Hines and Patterson alone in 2022, but there’s evidence Edmonds and Swift will be better at it this year.

TEs in the slot or in the boundary tend to be way more efficient. Pretty strong correlation between wr snaps and efficiency for that position. For RBs, it’s historically just been a couple specialists per season. Not super predictive or sticky year over year.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

AFC East
BUF-McKenzie...he's 5-8

Overlooking Crowder here, the exact type of receiver to target as an afterthought. He's been a lot more productive than McKenzie so far in his career without being much older either; albeit on teams without much competition. I think it's fair to assume Crowder is pencilled in as an upgrade to Beasley for the slot role.

I like Crowder as well but all camp reports and just about everything coming out of Buffalo is that McKenzie is the guy in the slot.
I don't know if Crowder can play all 3 positions but i like him any week he has to fill in as a starter with Allen slinging the ball.

 

[massraider]

For the future…Kyle Phillips, TEN is one to keep an eye on. Run first offense could hurt production however.

My favorite late round guy. I have him in all 4 of my dynasty leagues. I expect 100 targets next year minimum. In fact, is there a Kyle Phillips thread?

 

[massraider]

My favorite late round guy. I have him in all 4 of my dynasty leagues. I expect 100 targets next year minimum. In fact, is there a Kyle Phillips thread?

Oh, I posted in it.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Dallas - I think Pollard lines up in the slot for a significant portion of their snaps.

46 or 49 receiver snaps (out of 376) - sources vary.

He wasn’t very effective in that role. Very few RBs were last year but might be an anomaly. Basically it was Hines and Patterson alone in 2022, but there’s evidence Edmonds and Swift will be better at it this year.

TEs in the slot or in the boundary tend to be way more efficient. Pretty strong correlation between wr snaps and efficiency for that position. For RBs, it’s historically just been a couple specialists per season. Not super predictive or sticky year over year.

Agree, however the Cowboys are going to need to be more creative on offense this season with Coopers departure and Lamb not being a true #1 savage.