Receiving Threat in Middle of Field

By adding a receiver like Emmanuel Sanders into the mix, the Saints will have a more diverse set of skill-sets that will maximize their offensive scheme. They lacked reliable targets in the middle of the field at the wide receiver position aside from Michael Thomas last season.

As ESPN’s Matt Bowen noted, it’s likely the Saints will task Sanders with being utilized in the ‘quick game underneath’ primarily with running routes such as slants, shallows, and quick outs. Additionally, crossing routes and deep over routes will be part of his repertoire, too.

There was a great statistic mentioned by ESPN’s Mike Triplett from NFL Next Gen Stats stating that Sanders ranked second among all receivers in yards when targeted in the middle third of the field. He recorded 562 yards in thiese particular situations in 2019.

Not many receivers were relied upon as often as Sanders in the middle third of the field last season. Also pointed courtesy of NFL Next Gen Stats, Sanders ranked tied for seventh (32) in catches in this portion of the field while Michael Thomas led all receivers with 54.