Fantasy Slot Receivers

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“The slot receiver’s kind of the quarterback of the receivers,” he said in 2015. “More so because the slot receiver has more responsibilities in terms of reading coverages and different adjustments based on what coverages you’re seeing. It’s a lot more complicated. You have to know a lot more. Washington has a particularly nice matchup this week, leveraging his role in the slot. Arizona has allowed the fourth-most fantasy PPG to slot receivers since Week 10 (21.9) and the fifth most on. Fantasy football resources with slot receiver stats. Does anyone know of any sites that give stats for slot receivers specifically? For example, Yahoo lists MINN gives up the second most points to the WR position, but I'd like info about defensive rankings vs specifically slot receivers.

Receptions and targets are always important when putting together fantasy WR rankings, but in PPR leagues, they obviously take extra precedent. That doesn't mean 'possession' receivers are suddenly worth more than big-play, high-touchdown pass-catchers, but they certainly move up sleeper lists and draft cheat sheets in even half-point PPR formats.

Michael Thomas is the easy call as the top-ranked receiver after catching 149 balls last year, but DeAndre Hopkins, who was tied for second with 104 catches, could challenge him even more this year. Arizona's uptempo offense will likely be throwing often, and Hopkins is set to receive the bulk of the targets. But the top tier isn't where most fantasy owners have questions. Even big-play, lower-catch guys like Tyreek Hill and Kenny Golladay will have immense value. It's the second and third tiers where things get more interesting.

DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2020 cheat sheet

Keenan Allen, D.J. Moore, Allen Robinson, and Robert Woods are among the notable risers from our standard rankings, and while all three showed their PPR bona fides last year, it's important to note that the first three will likely have new quarterbacks throwing to them this year (we're projecting Nick Foles wins the Bears starting job). That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially for Moore and Robinson, but in Allen's case, it could lead to fewer targets and timing issues. That's also true for third-tier risers Julian Edelman and Tyler Boyd, though we expect fellow riser Emmanuel Sanders to flourish even more in New Orleans.

2020 PPR RANKINGS:

Fantasy Slot Receivers

Running back Tight end Superflex Top 200

Some fantasy owners go too far in favoring high-target receivers. While you'll often get more week-to-week consistency with Jamison Crowder or Curtis Samuel as your WR4, you'll miss out on those monster three-catch, 100-yard games from someone like Mecole Hardman or DeSean Jackson. You never know when you'll need a home run hitter, especially during the bye weeks, so don't be shy about drafting one or two big-play guys. You can often find them at a value during your PPR draft.

2020 STANDARD FANTASY RANKINGS:

Fantasy Slot Receivers 2019

SlotFantasy points allowed to slot receivers

Quarterback Running back Wide receiver Tight end D/ST Kicker Superflex Top 200

We'll continue to update our WR PPR rankings throughout the preseason, so check back for the latest movement. For our standard WR rankings and player analysis, click here.

2020 FANTASY SLEEPERS:

6 QBs 16 RBs 14 WRs 10 TEs 5 D/STs One from each team

2020 Fantasy WR PPR Rankings

Top Fantasy Slot Receivers

The following rankings are for full-point PPR leagues.

DRAFT STRATEGY AND RANKINGS TIERS:

Quarterback Running Back Wide Receiver Tight End D/ST

Points
RankPlayer
1Michael Thomas, Saints
2DeAndre Hopkins, Cardinals
3Julio Jones, Falcons
4Davante Adams, Packers
5Chris Godwin, Buccaneers
6Tyreek Hill, Chiefs
7Cooper Kupp, Rams
8Amari Cooper, Cowboys
9Odell Beckham Jr., Browns
10JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers
11Adam Thielen, Vikings
12Kenny Golladay, Lions
13Mike Evans, Buccaneers
14Keenan Allen, Chargers
15Tyler Lockett, Seahawks
16Courtland Sutton, Broncos
17D.J. Moore, Panthers
18A.J. Brown, Titans
19DJ Chark, Jaguars
20Robert Woods, Rams
21Allen Robinson, Bears
22Stefon Diggs, Bills
23DeVante Parker, Dolphins
24Calvin Ridley, Falcons
25Jarvis Landry, Browns
26Julian Edelman, Patriots
27Emmanuel Sanders, Saints
28T.Y. Hilton, Colts
29Terry McLaurin, Washington
30DK Metcalf, Seahawks
31Golden Tate, Giants
32Will Fuller V, Texans
33Marquise Brown, Ravens
34Tyler Boyd, Bengals
35Brandin Cooks, Texans
36John Brown, Bills
37Christian Kirk, Cardinals
38Jamison Crowder, Jets
39Deebo Samuel, 49ers
40A.J. Green, Bengals
41Marvin Jones, Lions
42Michael Gallup, Cowboys
43Diontae Johnson, Steelers
44Darius Slayton, Giants
45DeSean Jackson, Eagles
46Mike Williams, Chargers
47Anthony Miller, Bears
48CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys
49Sterling Shepard, Giants
50Curtis Samuel, Panthers
51Mecole Hardman, Chiefs
52Henry Ruggs III, Raiders
53Jerry Jeudy, Broncos
54N'Keal Harry, Patriots
55Preston Williams, Dolphins
56Allen Lazard, Packers
57Justin Jefferson, Vikings
58Van Jefferson, Rams
59Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
60Michael Pittman Jr., Colts
61Hunter Renfrow, Raiders
62Cole Beasley, Bills
63Dede Westbrook, Jaguars
64J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Eagles
65Robby Anderson, Panthers
66Breshad Perriman, Jets
67Sammy Watkins, Chiefs
68Alshon Jeffery, Eagles
69James Washington, Steelers
70Randall Cobb, Texans
71Scotty Miller, Buccaneers
72John Hightower, Eagles
73Kendrick Bourne, 49ers
74Bryan Edwards, Raiders
75Russell Gage, Falcons
76Corey Davis, Titans
77Parris Campbell, Colts
78Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers
79Tee Higgins, Bengals
80Kenny Stills, Texans
81Danny Amendola, Lions
82Denzel Mims, Jets
83Nelson Agholor, Raiders
84Devin Duvernay, Ravens
85Miles Boykin, Ravens
86Olabisi Johnson, Vikings
87Laviska Shenault Jr., Jaguars
88KJ Hamler, Broncos
89Jalen Guyton, 49ers
90Tre'Quan Smith, Saints
91John Ross III, Bengals
92Steven Sims, Washington
93Josh Reynolds, Rams
94Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers
95Zach Pascal, Colts
96Tajae Sharpe, Vikings
97Chase Claypool, Steelers
98Jalen Reagor, Eagles
99Joe Reed, Chargers

In the 2019 regular and postseason, per Pro Football Focus data, slot receivers regardless of position (receivers, running backs, and tight ends) accounted for 32% of all targets, 31.6% of all receptions, 32.3% of all receiving yardage, and 34.3% of all receiving touchdowns. In a league where the three-receiver set is by far the default formation (it happened on 69% of all snaps last season, per Sports Info Solutions), having a versatile and productive slot receiver is an absolute necessity in the modern passing game.

Moreover, there is no one kind of slot receiver in the modern NFL. It used to be that you wanted the shorter, smaller guy inside, and your bigger, more physical receivers on the outside. Then, offensive coaches started to realize that by putting bigger receivers and tight ends in the slot, you could create mismatches with slower linebackers and smaller slot cornerbacks. Teams countered this by acquiring linebackers built like safeties, eager to do more than just chase after run fits, and also by moving their best cornerbacks into the slot in certain situations.

Now that offensive and defensive coaches have worked hard to create as many schematic and personnel ties in the slot as possible, the best slot receivers are the ones who consistently show the ideal characteristics for the position. These receivers know how to exploit defenders who don’t have a boundary to help them — they’ll create inside and outside position to move the defender where they want him to go. They understand the value and precision of the option route, and how you can hang a defender out to dry with a simple “if this/then that” equation based on coverage rules. They know how to work in concert with their outside receivers to create route combinations which create impossible math problems for defenses. And they know how to get open in quick spaces.

But don’t automatically assume that slot receivers are just taking the dink-and-dunk routes — they’re actually tasked to catch everything from quick slants to vertical stuff down the seam and up the numbers. Last season, per PFF data, the NFL average for yards per completion for outside receivers was 11.28. For slot receivers, it was 11.63. So, over time and based on the play design and the makeup of the receivers, teams could find just that many more yards by throwing to their slot targets.

The best slot receivers in the game bring unique and highly valuable traits to the game, and here are the best among them.

More Top 11 lists: Slot defenders Outside cornerbacks Safeties Linebackers Edge defenders Interior defensive linemen Offensive tackles Offensive guards Centers Outside Receivers

Slot

Honorable Mentions

Had we dropped the qualifying floor to under 50% slot snaps, two guys would have easily made it — Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans, and Baltimore’s Marquise Goodwin. Evans led all slot receivers with at least 25 targets with a passer rating when targeted of 151.3, and Brown was an absolute force against defenses in the slot — especially when he was using his speed in empty formations.

San Francisco’s Deebo Samuel, who was probably the MVP of the first half of Super Bowl LIV before things started to go backward for his team, would have received a mention as well — Samuel had just 33 targets, but caught 28 of them and helped his quarterback to a 135.3 rating when he was targeted in the slot. Kansas City speed receiver Mecole Hardman had just 23 a lot targets, but he was also highly efficient with them, helping his quarterbacks to a 133.9 rating. Though Danny Amendola was the only Lions receiver to make the 50% threshold, both Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay were highly efficient when tasked to move inside. Other former slot stars like Tyreek Hill of the Chiefs and Minnesota’s Adam Thielen saw their roles change more to the outside in 2019 from previous seasons.

Of the receivers who actually qualified, Nelson Agholor of the Eagles was quietly efficient and had just two drops in the slot last season — which would go against several memes on the subject. Buffalo’s Cole Beasley just missed the cut, through he was one of several receivers on the Bills’ roster who didn’t always get the accuracy and efficiency they deserved from quarterback Josh Allen. And though Randall Cobb was productive for the Cowboys last season and should be so for the Texans in 2020, his nine drops as a slot man… well, we can only have one guy with nine slot drops on this list. More on that in a minute.

Now, on to the top 11.

Willie Snead IV Julian Edelman Tyler Boyd Jared Cook Golden Tate Keenan Allen Larry Fitzgerald Allen Robinson Cooper Kupp Chris Godwin Tyler Lockett