Football Flanker

What is a Flanker in Football?

In football, a flanker is a term used to describe a type of wide receiver that lines up behind the line of scrimmage by a few yards. Usually, the flanker will line up on the same side as the tight end and the opposite side of the split end, with a gap between himself and the rest of the offense. The name flanker is driven from the fact that this player is commonly positioned off to the side of the offense.

Z Receiver

The flanker uses his advantage of being further back from the line of scrimmage to gain a speed advantage and avoid being jammed up upon the snap. Flankers are usually quick and athletic players with good hands. This allows for them to catch a high number of passes throughout the game. The flanker position is also commonly abbreviated as the FL or Z receiver.