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• The point is, slot defenders are tested in new and vicious ways in the modern league, and their skill sets to defend speed, option routes and increased uses of receiver space are unique. Most great outside cornerbacks want to stay outside for those exact reasons.
• Slot receivers are the reliable, fallback options for most quarterbacks, and as a result, they get that boost you need in a PPR format. And the best part is, they usually come cheaper in drafts.

Cooper Kupp has far outperformed his draft slot after being a third-round pick in 2017. In three seasons, he’s already caught 196 passes for 2,596 yards and 21 touchdowns. He’s one of 11 players in the NFL with at least 190 catches, 2,500 yards and 20 touchdowns in that span, and that’s with missing nine games.

Kupp stayed healthy for all 16 games this season, putting together the best year of his young career thus far. He caught 94 of the 134 passes thrown his way, gaining 1,161 yards receiving with 10 touchdown catches.

Top Slot Receivers 2019 Nfl Draft

He primarily lines up in the slot, but not all of his production came from that position. With the way the Rams offense moves its receivers around, he lined up all over the formation. That being said, most of yards came inside.

There wasn’t a single receiver in the NFL with more yards from the slot this season, making Kupp the most productive in football

Top Slot Receivers In Nfl 2019

The peak of Kupp’s season came in Week 8 when he torched the Bengals for 220 yards on seven catches. He beat man and zone coverage in that game, pushing himself into the conversation as one of the best receivers in the league.

Since then, Kupp never reached 100 yards again and only caught 36 passes for 369 yards in his final eight games. Had he posted a similar second half as his first eight games (58 catches, 792 yards), he would’ve had a good chance to make the Pro Bowl.

Top Slot Receivers In Nfl 2019

Unfortunately, he cooled off and faded down the stretch as the Rams limited his playing time and went with more heavy packages on offense. That’s not to take away from the season he had, but it could’ve been even more special for the third-year receiver.