2018 NFL Receiving. “DVOA on passes to slot receivers improved from 2.1 percent in 2016 to 4.6 percent in 2017,” writes Kacsmar, while “DVOA on passes to wide targets declined from negative-1.0 percent to. Visit ESPN to view 2020 NFL player stats. Here, we take a look at the good ones, ranking the NFL’s top-five slot cornerbacks in 2018. Editor’s Note: Below is a list of the NFL’s highest-graded defensive players targeted in the slot at least 25 times during the regular season. All ELITE subscribers have access to our advanced slot coverage information in Premium Stats 2.0.

Bleacher Report’s year-end player rankings placed Green Bay Packers receiver Randall Cobb as the 16th-best slot receiver in the NFL, behind the likes of Danny Amendola, Jamison Crowder, among others.

Doug Baldwin of the Seattle Seahawks was the top-rated slot receiver, according to Bleacher Report, while Minnesota’s Adam Thielen, Detroit’s Golden Tate, Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald and Miami’s Jarvis Landry finished the top five.

Here’s the write-up on Cobb from Bleacher Report:

Randall Cobb used to be one of the most dynamic slot receivers in the league because he could beat defenders with both quickness and his lower-body power. But injuries and age may have caught up to Cobb, as he no longer has that elite athleticism from the slot. He is still a savvy route-runner and a reliable pass-catcher, but he just doesn’t scare teams after the catch.

The 31-year-old veteran doesn’t have top-end speed, but he understands defensive spacing and placement — he’s one of those guys who always seems to be around the ball. In 2018, McManis allowed just 12 receptions on 22 slot targets for 80 yards, 42 yards after the catch, no touchdowns and an opponent passer rating of 62.7.

Cobb, like Jordy Nelson, produced far less in 2017 while receiving passes from Brett Hundley. His 9.9 yards per catch was the lowest mark of his career. Whether or not the Packers’ quarterback situation was added into the equation is unknown. Bleacher Report bases their scouting grades on route running, hands, yards after the catch and blocking.

Cobb caught 71.7 percent of his targets and averaged 6.6 yards after the catch in 2017.

Cobb’s $12.6 million cap was the eighth-highest among wide receivers this season, according to Sportrac. If he’s still on the roster in 2018, Cobb would have a $12.7 million cap hit, whereas the No. 1-ranked slot receiver, Baldwin, would follow slightly behind at $12.1 million.

Keenan Allen, Ju Ju Smith-Schuster, Nelson Agholor, Sterling Shepard, Mohamed Sanu, Cooper Kupp, Amendola, Crowder, Tyler Lockett and Albert Wilson were the remaining receivers ranked ahead of Cobb.

Cobb, however, had a bigger cap hit than every player ranked ahead of him, including those in the top five, except for Fitzgerald, who counted $15.8 million against Arizona’s cap in 2017.

Nfl Top Slot Receivers 2018

Depending on how one views Bleacher Report’s rankings, Cobb’s ability places him at a level similar to Cole Beasley of the Cowboys.

Top Slot Receivers Nfl 2018 Nfl

The situation around Cobb and Nelson looks to be new general manager Brian Gutekunst’s first offseason crucible. It’ll be interesting to see if the former UW-La Crosse linebacker has an eagle-eyed view of his personnel.