The XYZ receivers for each NFL team

[Brees#1]

This is something I am having a hard time getting information on in google. But this is important to me. I had thought the X receiver is the go-to, the Z is the deep threat specialist, and Y is the slot. A lot of teams have their number 1 receivers as deep threats, which can limit fantasy value of the specialists. The saints have a style where all three are different. Thomas is the go-to route runner, Cooks is the deep threat Ginn replaces, and Snead is in the slot.

Pretty much I thought these were the deep threat specialists based on last year
John Brown/JJ Nelson, Taylor Gabriel, Mike Wallace, Marquise Goodwin, Ted Ginn Jr, Kevin White?/Cam Meredith, Brandon lafell, Corey Coleman(deeper plays than Pryor), Terrence Williams, Emmanuel Sanders, Marvin Jones, Davante Adams, Will Fuller, Phillip Dorsett, Allen Hurns, Tyreke Hill, Travis Benjamin, Tavon Austin, Kenny Stills, Adam Thielen, Chris Hogan, Brandin Cooks, Victor Cruz, Amari Cooper, not sure on eagles but thinking Beckham, Martavis Bryant/Sammie Coats, Quinton Patton, Jermaine Kearse, Adam Humphries(not sure as Evans was both receivers), Tajae Sharpe, Desean Jackson.

These were the go-to route runners?
Michael Floyd/John Brown, Julio Jones, Steve Smith/Perryman, Sammy Watkins, Kelvin Benjamin, Alshon Jeffery, AJ Green, Terelle Pryor, Dez Bryant, Demaryus Thomas, Golden Tate, Jordy Nelson, DeAndre Hopkins, Donte Moncrief, Allen Robinson, Jeremy Maclin, Kennan Allen/Tyrell Williams, Kenny Britt, Devante Parker, Stefon Diggs, Julian Edelman(moved to slot this year?), Michael Thomas, Odell Beckham Jr(another both roles player), Brandon Marshall, Michael Crabtree, Nelson Agholor, Antonio Brown, Torrey Smith, Tyler Lockett, Mike Evans, Rishard Matthews, Jamison Crowder

These were the slots?
Fitz, Sanu, Kyle J of ravens, Woods, Funchess, Royal, Boyd, Hawkins, Beasley, Latimer, Boldin, Cobb, Strong/Miller, Hilton, Lee, Conley, Inman, Quick, Landry, Patterson, Almendola/Michell, Snead, Seth Roberts, Matthews, Hamilton, Kerley, Baldwin, Shorts, Wright/Douglas, Garcon

 

[SmokingMonkey]

fleener?

crowder and garcon mixed up

 

[TREFF]

It would be easier to list the handful of teams that have this clearly defined role for all three receivers than the ones who shift guys all around the formation and swap roles from all three spots.

 

[ehb5]

Yea I agree with the first two posts.

Crowder and Garcon are definitely mixed up.

And it varies team by team. Guys like OBJ and Julio are obviously go to guys and great route runners but theyre also their teams top deep threat. And they both line up in the slot sometimes. Im sure theres a lot of other guys who have varied roles.

 

[Brees#1]

It would be easier to list the handful of teams that have this clearly defined role for all three receivers than the ones who shift guys all around the formation and swap roles from all three spots.

I see that now. The ones with clearly defined roles....are they the majority or the minority? I know ODB is not a x and the giants don't use a x, they have Zs and slots.

So far to me appears Arizona, Cincinatti, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, GB, Indianapolis, NE(should be more stabilized with Cooks there), NO do have these roles.

Maybe I will just go to each team's board and ask.

 

[TREFF]

Simply put, your over thinking the whole thing. Different OC's have different roles, f
in each individual situation, for X, Y, and Z.. so identifying who is what really isn't gaining you much. On 1st down, ODB might run a fly from the X, he might run a cross while the Z runs a fly, he might run a deep out while that Y runs a fly. Your better off studying the coordinator and adding in what each of the receivers at his disposal is good at rather than trying to pigeon hole anyone in one set role. The cases where there is a definitive "deep guy", possesion guy" , and that's basically all they do, are few and far between

 

[Sam Sportboy]

What really sucks is when a team goes 4-5 WR's what the hell do we call them? Do we need to add a couple letter to the alphabet?

 

[Brees#1]

Simply put, your over thinking the whole thing. Different OC's have different roles, f
in each individual situation, for X, Y, and Z.. so identifying who is what really isn't gaining you much. On 1st down, ODB might run a fly from the X, he might run a cross while the Z runs a fly, he might run a deep out while that Y runs a fly. Your better off studying the coordinator and adding in what each of the receivers at his disposal is good at rather than trying to pigeon hole anyone in one set role. The cases where there is a definitive "deep guy", possesion guy" , and that's basically all they do, are few and far between

The main point I am looking into is the short yardage receiver, the slot, and the one that can catch big passes. More importantly determining what each defense is good at defending. I had always thought the go-to was the chain mover, helps prolong the drive and taking it deep if needed.

 

[TREFF]

The main point I am looking into is the short yardage receiver, the slot, and the one that can catch big passes. More importantly determining what each defense is good at defending. I had always thought the go-to was the chain mover, helps prolong the drive and taking it deep if needed.

Well, you'll likely find about 30 different answers to that based on the teams. In NE, that go to is Edelman...or Hogan, or Gronk.. sometimes, they play slot, sometimes they're out wide, sometimes, even with Edelman, they're inline. There is no definitive answer. And it's pointless until about week 5-6 to even speculate as to what most defenses are good at. Personal changes, coaching changes, system changes. . Far too many variables from year to year wth the rare exceptions

 

[Brees#1]

This is based on last year anyways. I am not going to predict how players do next year. What U am trying to do is figure out which number two or three receivers will take the next step.

Edelman, though, is no deep threat. And I seen pats analysis on the receivers already. Edelman is x and y. Hogan is z and sometimes y, Mitchell is all of them, Almendola was y and z. Of course there's no fantasy consistency with NE receivers but Cooks is going to change that.

 

[TKOSpikes]

A, E, I, O, U ... and sometimes Y

 

[DALLAScornhusker]

In most offenses, the X is the guy that most often is on a side by himself, is lined up on the line and has to be physical/quick enough to beat a jam. He's not necessarily the team's go to receiver, but he is typically the one the team will spend more resources to find (Draft pick, trade or $). The Z is the complimentary player, guy can swing from one side of the field to the other, motion and traditionally does not have the physical traits of the X. Most of the time the Z is fast, has dependable deep field prowess and can run a variety of routes. The Y or slot in this discussion is the real chain mover, works as an alternate to a run play. Depending on the team, personnel and philosophy they may be utilized in all routes but they usually are not asked to be vertical threats, and just work inside to outside routes and sometimes rub route combinations to free others or themselves up.

Since each team is different, and each defense they face have different personnel that is more susceptible to one certain area, you may find out that decoding the X from the Z really doesn't matter in the fantasy world. From a stats standpoint, your X should see the most targets, the slot and Z will be similar, unless you have a great TE, at which point one or both will be behind the TE. But TD totals are more of a result in who you face than the position on the field they play. The path of least resistance is the way the offense will flow. The way I look at who is really the defacto go to guy depends more on what type of defense that team is playing.

 

[eaglesnut]

Would be cool to see this in a list by team.

Teams use these guys differently though.

Only a handful of teams that have this clearly defined and it doesn't fit in all cases

1) Go To
2) Deep Guy
3) Slot

Parker
Stills
Landry?

Beckham
Marshall
Shepard?

Jeffery
T.Smith
J. Matthews?

Moncrief
Hilton
Aiken?

I just call them 1, 2, 3 and I don't care where they line up because the results are what matters.

Crowder is Washington's real #1 but he will be in the slot. That goes for the Dolphins and Landry as well. And it still applies to Edelman and the Patriots.

 

[averagejoe]

That's not necessarily easy to nail down.
Because a TE can be a Z receiver. Sometimes it's a third WR. Other times it's 2nd tailback (RB).
It all depends on where they lineup.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Simply put, your over thinking the whole thing.

WHOA WHOa WHoa Whoa whoa.....

Brees#1 overthinking something football related? That's complete & utter nonsense Treff... And you know it

 

[TREFF]

WHOA WHOa WHoa Whoa whoa.....

Brees#1 overthinking something football related? That's complete & utter nonsense Treff... And you know it

You're right. .i should know better

 

[SteelersPride]

did each team board give us the answers yet

 

[Trudem]

This was my answer

 

[SteelersPride]

lol

 

[Brees#1]

Would be cool to see this in a list by team.

Teams use these guys differently though.

Only a handful of teams that have this clearly defined and it doesn't fit in all cases

1) Go To
2) Deep Guy
3) Slot

Parker
Stills
Landry?

Beckham
Marshall
Shepard?

Jeffery
T.Smith
J. Matthews?

Moncrief
Hilton
Aiken?

I just call them 1, 2, 3 and I don't care where they line up because the results are what matters.

Crowder is Washington's real #1 but he will be in the slot. That goes for the Dolphins and Landry as well. And it still applies to Edelman and the Patriots.

What's your take on the giants? OBJ takes a lot of deep ones.