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.
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.
