1. Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
Including the postseason, no slot receiver caught more touchdown passes than Lockett did in the 2019 campaign with six. He also allowed Russell Wilson a 122.9 passer rating when targeting him from the slot. Not that creating supernatural efficiency for his quarterback is a new thing for Lockett — in 2018, he became the first receiver since at least 2018 to take at least 20% of his snaps and still rack up a perfect passer rating overall when targeted.
Lockett has become a top-level receiver no matter where he lines up, but he’s a great slot target for the same reasons you’ll find for every receiver on this list — he knows how create separation with spacing and leverage, he has an extra gear when he needs it, and in Lockett’s case, there are things he’s learned about adjusting the speeds of his routes that make things very difficult for opposing defenders.
Outstanding job by that #2 WR of running up on Dean and having the patience to cause traffic while not making contact with his body.
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) July 23, 2020
In addition to those six slot touchdowns, Lockett caught 64 inside passes on 88 targets for a league-high 901 yards, and he dropped just one pass. As D.K. Metcalf becomes more of a force and a threat as an outside receiver, the Seahawks have one of the more dynamic duos at the position. But as much as Russell Wilson is the epicenter of Seattle’s passing game, this thing doesn’t work without Lockett’s presence — inside and out.