DISCUSSION: WR3. How important?

[Ben E Lou]

Assuming you're running a balanced attack or one that tilts a bit toward the run, how important do you view the WR3 position as being? I've come to view the WR3 slot as being just about as important as the traditional 11 starting spots, since that player is used so often on critical third downs. For example, the average IHOF team had 13.8 tries at 3rd down conversions per game last season, with an average of 7.9 yards to go, so the vast majority of those were passing situations. That's pretty big when it comes to keeping drives alive. Thoughts?

[Richard Weed]

I think that even running a balanced attack or one that tilts against the run, your third WR can be an important cog in your offense. The good thing is that they usually don't cost as much as a starter and you can get away with having one with low endurance. I'd say that they're good for not only 3rd down conversions, but are good when your FL gets subbed out or if your FL gets an injury during the game.

In most of my seasons, I use a flanker as my 3rd WR vice a split end...this is depending on their ratings and how well they've done when thrown the ball. That being said, it's hard to get a read on guys you've drafted unless it's the preseason. I usually like a vet WR that I can buy on the cheap for a few years and toss away.

[QuikSand]

I think if I were ranking the importance of my offensive players (at least for the style of offense that I prefer), I'd probably slot WR3 somewhere around 9th or 10th most important... actually ahead of a couple of starters like my least effective OL or two, and probably my fullback.

I think the ability to slot specific receivers in for specific formations gives pretty good value to use a 3rd WR pretty carefully, and I like that. Also, since I think the value of the starting WRs is awfully high for a pass-inclined offense, having a third quality guy for depth is pretty important beyond his use in specialty situations.

[johnnyshaka]

Anybody ever use their TE as their 3rd WR?

[albionmoonlight]

With a passing oriented team, I use WR3 a TON. The more I play FOF, the less and less I use a fullback. 1RB, 3 WR, 1TE is pretty much my ideal base formation. It may vary depending on my personell, but those are what I consider the skill positions that I need to fill.

[Eaglesfan27]

I think a good 3rd WR is critical to a team's success. I'm right about where QS is. I rank the 3rd WR as more important than several other starters on offense. I've had the most success in FOF when I have 3 WR's that are rated highly even when I've had slightly below average players at other positions.

[Warhammer]

It really depends on what your team is based on, but I have been boosting my opinion of WR3 quite a bit. Just had a divisional playoff game last week where the WR3 was my key matchup. The guy got like 3 3rd down conversions, including a 4th down one in the closing seconds of the game to keep the gamewinning drive alive.

[MartinD]

I'm a bit biased, as my tendency is towards running pass-biased offences, but I treat the third receiver as being a de-facto starter (I treat my third corner pretty much the same way - they're both guys who are going to get a good bit of playing time almost no matter what offence you run).

For the guys who run passing offences, the fourth and fifth receivers can be almost as valuable as starters - had a recent game in the RealDeal MP league where my fourth receiver ended up with over 100 yards receiving.

I don't run a balanced or run-first offence as much, but I would suspect that having the right type of receiver as your third guy would make a big difference (thinking a guy who is good on third downs, good route-runner, good hands, probably pretty good over the middle - deep speed or potential for yardage after the catch isn't as big a deal). Any team is going to be in plenty of important third-down situations over the course of a season, but this may be the only time your third receiver gets on the field if your offence is biased towards the run.

An aside: Something I've tried a few times (with some success) is to play my best receiver as the backup flanker/third receiver - while this does mean that your best receiver isn't on the field as much as you might like, it also means that your top guy is (probably) going up against weaker coverage...

Just my opinion, as always...

Martin

[NoSkillz]

Short answer from me is that the #3 receiver is very important but a lot depends on the formations you run.

In one of my MP leagues, I run a balanced offense, with slight emphasis on the run, just as Skydog mentioned in the opening post.

However, I have done a lot of fiddling with my formations so that I'm primarily running a single-back offense under slight run and slight pass situations. The personnel varies within my schemes but the primary offense sees three wideouts, a tight end and a tailback. I also run a lot of four receiver sets out of this offense, with the tight end split out.

So the third WR plays a huge role in this offense and sees just as many looks as my #2 WR on most gamedays.

However, if I was using a default gameplan, which places more emphasis on Pro Sets and I-Formations, I doubt the 3rd WR would get as many looks.

[RedKingGold]

IMO, there are three guys outside the starting 22 that have an amazing impact on the success of a season (in no particular order):

1. Backup QB
2. 3rd receiver
3. Nickel cornerback

By my accounts, the nickel corner is usually in for over half of a team's plays (as is a third receiver). Not having a capable backup QB can absolutely destroy a promising season (see IHOF - Ann Arbor)

[tarcone]

I agree with the Backup QB being most important.
I forgot that going into this GEFL season. I am now paying dearly for forgetting.

[cthomer5000]

I've viewed WR3 as a mental starter since FOF2004. I'm with Quik as viewing them as more important than a couple other actual starters.

[tarcone]

I guess it comes down to offensive philosophy.
Do you go single back? Or do you go with 2 back and/or 2 TE sets?
This more then anything shows how important the 3rd WR is to a team.