I’m back for the third part of my Slot Machines series. Everyone loves a late-round flier! This week I am going to discuss slot receivers flying under the radar. You definitely won’t be comfortable starting these guys every week, but each can significantly contribute to fantasy teams in 2020. These players can be solid plug-and-plays throughout the season, especially in weeks they face defenses who struggle against opposing slot receivers. If your watch list currently lacks these players, add them now!
Dede Westbrook
Larry Fitzgerald is the only player to run more snaps from the slot in 2019 than Dede Westbrook. Westbrook caught five or more balls in nine games last season. In eleven games he saw a minimum of six targets, yet is currently free in most drafts. From the slot last season, he garnered 75 targets, 50 receptions, 499 yards, and three touchdowns. Obviously, DJ Chark caps Dede’s upside, but he should still carve out a significant role in the Jacksonville offense next season.
In 2019: 101 targets, 66 receptions, 660 yards, 3 TDs
Current ADP: Undrafted
Bold Take: Westbrook was the only receiver with more than 100 targets in 2019 to not crack the Top 40 WR in half-point PPR leagues. Watch him finish as a Top 35 WR in 2020!
Randall Cobb
Going from a stacked wide receiver room in Dallas to a Texan’s team that needs all the receiving help they can get should boost Randall Cobb’s 2020 stock. His 833 yards were 33rd in football last season. 716 of those yards came from the slot. Last season DeAndre Hopkins, Kenny Stills, and Keke Coutee primarily saw the slot snaps. Expect the vet, Randal Cobb, to gobble up most of the Texans slot snaps in 2020. Cobb could become the safety net for one of the league’s most explosive quarterbacks and is currently going undrafted in a league near you.
In 2019: 83 targets, 55 receptions, 828 yards, 3 TDs
Current ADP: Undrafted
Bold Take: Cobb hasn’t seen 100 plus targets since 2015. A Texans wide receiver group known to be injury-prone changes that in 2020.
Cole Beasley
Stefon Diggs joined the Bills this offseason. While I think this affects John Brown tremendously, I don’t see it hurting Cole Beasley quite as much. Cole Beasley’s 72 slot targets in 2019 tied him for ninth-most in the NFL. Beasley has a significant role carved out in the Buffalo offense and now has a year of chemistry with Josh Allen. Diggs is another mouth to feed through the air, and Buffalo’s run-first scheme does not help the case for Cole Beasley in 2020.
In 2019: 104 targets, 67 receptions, 778 yards, 6 TDs
Current ADP: Undrafted
Bold Take: Earns a third straight season with over 65 receptions
Danny Amendola
Tossing out week two due to injury, Amendola played 6 games with Stafford last season. In three of those six games, Amendola caught at least 7 balls and went for 95 or more yards. Amendola’s 348 snaps from the slot ranked Top 15 in 2019. No other Lions wide receiver saw over 175 snaps from the slot. His ceiling is limited due to Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay getting their piece of the offense, but Amendola should have a safe floor with Stafford running the offense and little competition for slot reps.
In 2019: 96 targets, 62 receptions, 678 yards, 1 TD
Current ADP: Undrafted
Bold Take: A full season with Stafford produces Amendola’s first career 700-yard season.
Russel Gage
Mohamed Sanu’s departure gave Russel Gage a more solidified role in the Atlanta offense. Gage’s 221 snaps from the slot ranked Top 10 from weeks 9-17. In that span, he saw 37 targets, 27 receptions, 240 yards, and a touchdown from the slot. The duo of Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley limit any upside with Gage, but he should see plenty of field for an offense that is known for airing it out.
In 2019: 74 targets, 49 receptions, 446 yards, 1 TD
Current ADP: Undrafted
Bold Take: Gage was WR78 in half-point PPR leagues last season. He cracks the Top 50 in 2020.
Golden Tate
After missing the first four weeks of the season due to injury, Tate proved once again to be one of the better slot receivers in the game. From week 5 on, Golden Tate ran more snaps from the slot than any other receiver in the league. During that span he ranked Top 6 in targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns from the slot. His five touchdowns from the slot over that time frame was tied for tops in the NFL with Jamison Crowder and Hollywood Brown. Tate saw at least six targets in all but two games last season. In six of those games, he saw at least eight targets. Tate had 50 or more receiving yards in seven of eleven games last season. Golden Tate could turn out to be a solid flex option in 2020. What a bargain at his current ADP!
In 2019: 85 targets, 49 receptions, 676 yards, 6 TDs
Current ADP: 153
Bold Take: If healthy the duration of the season, Tate finishes as a Top 25 WR.
Steven Sims Jr.
Steven Sims saw the field more and moreover the second half of the 2019 season. In fact, over his final 5 games, he averaged 12.34 FPPG in half-point PPR scoring. In those final 5 weeks, Steven Sims Jr. was Top 15 in snaps from the slot. His 26 targets from the slot over that span tied him for 6th in the NFL. From week 13 on, he caught 15 balls for 123 yards and two touchdowns from the slot. He ended the 2019 season with three consecutive games with five or more catches. Sims Jr. had 40 or more receiving yards in each of the final four games. Take the gamble in the last round of your draft and hope the chemistry between Haskins and Sims continues into their sophomore seasons.
In 2019: 56 targets, 34 receptions, 310 yards, 4 TDs
Current ADP: Undrafted
Bold Take: Sims Jr. caught four of Haskins seven 2019 touchdowns. He tops 500 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2020!
IDP Twist- Justin Coleman
While doing my IDP research on the slot I came across Justin Coleman multiple times and had to mention him. The Lions struggled the duration of the 2019 season against opposing slot receivers. This is a defense I will look to expose once again in 2020 verse slot receivers. Justin Coleman was targeted 54 times in 2019 while in slot coverage. He allowed 35 receptions, 457 yards, and two touchdowns in those 54 targets. The Lions face off against the Bears, Packers, Cardinals, and Saints before heading into a week 5 bye. Draft accordingly, because I expect the Anthony Miller party bus to be full after week 1.
Final Takes
- Dede Westbrook is heavily slept on in current drafts. 100 targets available with a free price tag.
- Currently going undrafted, Cobb is one of my favorite late-round targets due to the health concerns that always seem to follow the other
- Texan’s receivers.
- Cole Beasley will quietly do his thing once again. Can Josh Allen and Buffalo’s run-first scheme support Brown, Diggs, and Beasley who were all Top 35 WR in half-point PPR scoring last season?
- Amendola can return a very solid floor for owners in 2020, but the Galloday/Jones duo certainly limits his upside.
- Gage turns Atlanta’s dynamic duo into a three-headed monster.
- Golden Tate is a Top 25 WR in 2020.
- Steven Sims Jr. will be on waiver columns everywhere after the first couple weeks of the season.
- Give me slot receivers against the Lions all day.
