Slot Report: Part 1
The slot may not be an official position in your fantasy football league format, but the slot is a position just like running back or tight end. Running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends all run routes from the slot. To ignore the position and not do your due diligence is only hampering your ability to manage your fantasy team to the best of your ability.
Eleven teams utilized the slot for more than 1,500 total yards in 2019, while six teams failed to touch 1,000 yards from the slot position. Every team utilizes the position in a different way. This is why the slot position is hard to scout for some owners but also why mastering the art of the slot can book your ticket to the fantasy playoffs. For example, Ravens’ tight ends combined for almost 1,000 yards from the slot last season. The Denver Broncos and their tight ends combined for a measly 17 yards from the slot.
Four running backs had over 95 slot yards in 2019: Christian McCaffrey (130), Tarik Cohen (114), Austin Ekeler (97), and David Johnson (96). Only nine teams utilized running backs out of the slot for more than 100 yards in 2019. Fourteen teams saw under 30 slot yards from their running backs.
Monitoring the slot and how each team utilizes or defends the slot can give you a huge leg up on your competition. Russel Gage is a name I’ve grown fond of while doing my research on slot wide receivers. But digging deeper and comparing how the Ravens and Falcons utilize slot wide receivers, is it crazy to think Willie Snead IV will have more fantasy points come the end of the 2020 season? This week, I tackle breaking down each team’s slot utilization from 2019.
Like I said before, eleven teams passed for 1,500 or more yards from the slot in 2019. So why not start this off with the teams that used the slot the most.
ARIZONA CARDINALS– Besides the fact that the Cardinals already have two top fantasy options in Kenyan Drake and DeAndre Hopkins, their slot usage and the always relevant Larry Fitzgerald scare me away from owning any shares of Christian Kirk in 2020. The Cards say they want to use Kirk in the slot more, but that is very easy to say when he was rarely used there in 2019. No player saw more snaps from the slot last season than Larry Fitzgerald. With Fitz and DeAndre Hopkins both being Top 20 in targets from the slot last season, Kirk will be very limited on the opportunities he will see from the slot.
BALTIMORE RAVENS– 19 touchdowns from the slot last season! Are you kidding me? The big winners here are Mark Andrews and Hollywood Brown. Mark Andrews saw 14 more targets from the slot last season than any other tight end. 698 of his 852 yards last season came via the slot. While Hollywood tied the league lead with six touchdowns from the slot in his rookie campaign. These two should once again terrorize teams from the slot this year.
CHICAGO BEARS– Anthony Miller all day, every day! Bears’ wide receivers combined for almost 1,300 slot yards in 2019. My expectation is Miller’s play to end last season carries on into 2020. Allen Robinson II will still see his fair share of work from the slot as he saw 259 slot snaps to Miller’s 363. Robinson is a WR1 in my books, but that shouldn’t stop Anthony Miller from being a solid flex option this upcoming season.
Tarik Cohen and CMC were the only two running backs with over 100 receiving yards from the slot last season. Tarik Cohen is a solid option in all PPR formats. Don’t forget about him in drafts!
DALLAS COWBOYS– Dallas wide receivers had just over 1,100 yards from the slot last season. They also tacked on five touchdowns from the slot. Randall Cobb did the majority of that damage with 716 slot yards and three touchdowns. Cobb is no longer on the team, so who picks up the slack? Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup saw 74 and 69 snaps from the slot respectively. The team did draft CeeDee Lamb. Considering how often the Cowboys looked toward the slot in 2019, this is a situation to watch heading into training camp and the preseason.
DETROIT LIONS– I really like the idea of Stafford and Amendola teaming up for the entirety of this season. In three of the six games he played with Stafford last season, he caught at least seven balls and went over 95 yards. From 2015-2018, the Lion’s leader in slot yards averaged 544 yards. I still view Amendola more as a safe floor option with Kenny Galloday and Marvin Jones running routes for the Lions as well.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS– In back-to-back season, a Chiefs receiver has either led the league in slot touchdowns or been tied for the lead league. Tyreek Hill is the favorite to lead the team with slot touchdowns, but everyone will contribute. Last season, six Chiefs had over 100 receiving yards from the slot. Five of those six scored touchdowns from the slot. Though Mecole Hardman was fourth on the team in slot targets with 21, he led the team in slot yards with 388 and tied the lead league for slot touchdowns(6). A healthy Tyreek will limit Hardman’s looks from the slot. Hardman, however, is an injury away from providing plenty of fantasy upside.
LOS ANGELES RAMS– No team had more slot yards from wide receivers than the Rams. Only the Patriots and Buccaneers had more total slot yards than the 1,729 the Rams had last season. Cooper Kupp is one of the best slot receivers in football, but Robert Woods can do it all. Even with Kupp hogging up targets from the slot, Woods has over 500 receiving yards from the slot in each of the past two seasons. I have Woods over Kupp in my rankings!
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS– With Tom Brady no longer under center for the Pats, I see no way the Patriots finish anywhere close to the 1,756 slot yards they had last season. Julian Edelman will surely take a huge hit to his production this year. New England could always add a quarterback at any point, but I’ve also learned to never doubt Bill Belichek.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS– With Manny Sanders no longer in San Fran, plenty of slot snaps open up for the 49er’s. Deebo Samuel’s 21 catches and 252 yards from the slot ranked third behind Sanders and Kittle. Samuel started playing a more prominent role in the offense to end the year and in the playoffs. With Sanders no longer in the equation, that role should only grow. 1,000 receiving yards in 2020? I think so.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS– Tyler Lockett nearly tripled the slot targets of any other Seahawks receiver in 2019. Even with DK Metcalf emerging as a solid fantasy asset, TD Lockett’s value should not be affected. The 18 touchdown connections over the last two seasons between Lockett and Wilson should not be ignored either. I see no way Tyler Lockett finishes outside the Top 25 WR with Russell Wilson’s love for his top slot man.
Seattle Top Slot Option Last 3 Seasons:
2017: Baldwin (66 targets, 45 receptions, 655 yards, 5 TDs)
2018: Baldwin in 13 games (44 targets, 27 receptions, 285 yards, 5 TDs)
Lockett chipped in 26 receptions for 454 yards and 5 TDs on 29 targets
2019: Lockett (74 targets, 56 receptions, 770 yards, 6 TDs)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS– No team had more receiving yards from the slot last season than the Bucs. Chris Godwin was second in the league with 838 yards from the slot in 2019. Tom Brady has always been fond of the slot and Godwin may be the most talented slot receiver Brady has ever thrown too. Godwin looks to be the biggest benefactor with Brady now under center. The Bucs will be in the race to lead the league in slot yards once again in 2020.