What is a Wide Receiver in Football? (Their Roles Explained)

A wide receiver is one of the well-known positions in American football. They are frequently included in highlight reels due to their exceptional catching ability and the frequency with which they score touchdowns on plays.

So, what else makes these guys so important for a football team to have? Here’s a rundown of the wide receiver position in football, including what they do, hall of fame players, and more.

What does a Wide Receiver Do in Football?

A wide receiver on a football team in the United States has two primary responsibilities. The initial function is to rush down the field in order to get open after the quarterback throws a forward pass.

Because they are eligible receivers, the quarterback can pass to this football position player. It’s important to note that not everyone on the offense, such as the center, is an eligible receiver.

On running plays, a wide receiver’s second function is to act as a blocker. For example, an outside running play will necessitate the wide receiver to block the cornerback on that side of the field.

While wide receivers are not as big or strong as other offensive line players, they may still keep a guy back for a second or two, which could be all the time the running back needs to get by that defender on the run.

Can a Wide Receiver Throw the Ball During the Game?

Occasionally, an NFL team will have a wide receiver who was a starting quarterback in high school or college. While they may be better as wide receivers in the NFL, they still have their throwing expertise and abilities.

If that is the case, teams might draw up a trick play to allow the wide receiver to throw the ball down the field to another eligible receiver.

In Super Bowl XL, the running back hands the ball off to the wide receiver (Antwaan Randel El), who then passed the ball downfield to Hines Ward for a touchdown.

Because the defense was taken off guard by the trick play, which seemed to be a run, Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward was wide open down the field for a touchdown pass.

Another example of this ruse was the New England Patriots’ game against the Baltimore Ravens in 2020. Jakobi Meyers, a wide receiver, threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Rex Burkhead, a running back.

How To Complete a Good Throw by a Wide Receiver?

Two factors are required for a wide receiver to make a successful pass to a different player. To begin, you’ll need a wide receiver who can accurately toss the ball far down the field.

Second, the offense must disguise the play as a run or something similar to throw the defense off guard. The defense might commit to stopping the run and leaving a wide receiver open down the field, which took place during Super Bowl XL.

What Characterize a Good Wide Receiver?

Wide receivers must be quick, have good hand-eye coordination, and be able to recognize defensive alignment flaws.

Because the passing game is one of the most crucial parts of any effective offensive team, having an outstanding wide receiver can enhance scoring opportunities dramatically.

A superb wide receiver, for example, may make a difficult catch and then elude a tackle, resulting in additional offensive yards. Yards after the catch is a fantasy football metric that refers to gaining extra yards from a grab.

Is it important to have wide receivers in fantasy football?

In fantasy football, wide receivers are among the most important positions to secure. The points and what qualifies as scoring in your fantasy league will vary. This is because most leagues consider yardage, receiving yards, and touchdowns, which wide receivers produce.

Every owner’s primary priority should be to get a wide receiver who is outstanding at route running, has excellent quickness and can break tackles.

Is it Possible for a Wide Receiver to Play on Special Teams?

Because of a wide receiver’s speed and ability to catch the ball, several NFL clubs choose to have them play special teams as well. Punt/kick returner is the position that the wide receiver will play on special teams.

Wide receivers are often chosen to play this position because of their excellent hands, quickness, and ability to juke out defenders to gain the most yards on a return.

What Is a Wide Receiver and Why Is It Called That?

A wide receiver is an offensive alignment that “splits out wide” towards the sideline before the snap. The receiver part comes from the fact that they are in charge of catching balls thrown by the quarterback.

Split Ends, Flankers, Slot Receiver, and Slot Back are different Offense Formations for Receivers

How many wide receivers may a team have in the NFL?

On the field, an offensive team can only have eleven players, with two wide receiver positions. During a play, the wide receivers line up on each side of the offensive line.

During passing plays, however, the running back, fullback, and tight end can all be used as wide receivers and count as eligible receivers in specific offensive sequences.

Are there any wide receivers in the Hall of Fame of the NFL?

As of November 2021, the NFL Hall of Fame has nineteen wide receivers. Jerry Rice, Lance Alworth, Tom Fears, Charley Taylor, and Lynn Swann are among the most well-known players.

Are Wide Receivers Valuable in the NFL Draft?

Wide receivers, running backs, and quarterbacks are among the most sought-after offensive players in the NFL draft. Because of the value they can bring to any offensive team, those three offensive positions are highly drafted.

A great wide receiver can help any offensive team get out to a fast start. He could be the missing element a team needs to win more games.

EndNote: What is a Wide Receiver in Football?

In conclusion, a wide receiver is one of a team’s most crucial offensive players. They’re usually one of your team’s fastest players that helps to get past defenders and gain a lot of yardage on a single play.

They can catch the ball in the center of the field and get to the end zone since the defense cannot catch up to them once they make a catch due to their speed.

Finally, having a wide receiver on your team with quarterback experience in high school or college might enhance your offensive playbook via a trick play.