Football Flanker
What is a Flanker in Football?
In football, a flanker is 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 opposing team’s tight end (the strong side) and the opposite side of the defense’s split end (the weak side), with a gap between them and the rest of the offense. The name flanker is driven from the fact that this player is commonly positioned to the side area of the offense known as the flank. The flanker position is also commonly abbreviated as the FL or Z receiver.
Flanker Position in Football
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.
FAQ
What are the wide receiver positions in football?
The three main wide receiver positions in football are slot receiver, split end, and flanker. The split end, also known as the X receiver, is the receiver lined up on the line of scrimmage and is typically on the weak side. The flanker, also known as the Z receiver, lines up on the opposite side of the ball from the split end, and is a few yards behind the line of scrimmage at the snap. The slot receiver lines up inside of another receiver, typically behind the line of scrimmage.