Slot receivers get a bad rap in fantasy football. Only a few have really been consistently fantasy relevant in years past, like Randall Cobb, 2011-era Victor Cruz, or in recent years, Larry Fitzgerald.
But the Washington Redskins may have stumbled on the next fantasy-relevant slot receiver in Jamison Crowder. And it's likely that he won't be going under the radar any longer.
Crowder's already had five games this season where he amassed more than seven targets. And against the Cincinnati Bengals -- albeit aided by DeSean Jackson's exit from the game -- Crowder racked up 13 targets, on the way to notching a 9-reception, 107-yard, 1-touchdown stat line, his second-straight game surpassing the 100-yard mark.
Crowder has consistently stepped up when there have been injuries among Washington's skill players. In fact, among the four most-targeted receivers on the team, Crowder's been both the most productive, and the most efficient, which is especially impressive because he operates out of the slot.
| Player | Tar | Rec | Rec NEP | Rec NEP/Tar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Reed | 59 | 42 | 35.54 | 0.60 |
| Desean Jackson | 56 | 30 | 28.51 | 0.51 |
| Pierre Garcon | 55 | 36 | 36.90 | 0.67 |
| Jamison Crowder | 57 | 40 | 44.04 | 0.77 |
Crowder's also proven to be an effective red zone weapon, having garnered a team-leading 11 red zone targets through eight games, 2 of which account for his 4 total touchdowns.
With Crowder's connection with Kirk Cousins in full effect, it'd be wise for Jay Gruden to do all he can to keep dialing up plays that keep Crowder involved.