The slot receiver is an integral part of a football team’s offense. He’s responsible for lining up pre-snap between the last man on the line of scrimmage (either the tight end or offensive tackle) and the outside receiver.

Slot receivers are typically a little shorter and smaller than their outside wide receiver counterparts, but they have great speed and top-notch route-running skills to help them excel in the slot. They also have to be able to handle the contact that comes with being in the slot.

Their skill set and ability to get open make them an essential part of any team’s passing game. As a result, they’ve seen more attention in recent years than any other receiver position.

A slot receiver is an excellent route runner and will be quick to make the right play on every snap. They can run all sorts of routes, including short and deep ones, and they’ll have to be able to move around defensive players in order to catch the ball.

They’re a crucial part of the blocking game, too. Since they’re lined up relatively close to the middle of the field, their initial blocking after a snap is usually more important to the success of a running play than that of the outside receivers. They may need to chip nickelbacks and outside linebackers, or they’ll need to perform a crack back block on defensive ends.

The slot receiver’s speed is particularly helpful when he’s running a go route and can fly past the secondary. He also needs to be able to absorb a lot of contact and be reliable with his hands, because he’ll receive a lot of targets in the slot.

Slot receivers are a very popular choice in the NFL, as they often lead the league in receiving yards per reception. In fact, they’ve been targeted on almost 40 percent of passing attempts in the past few seasons.

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