what is wr in football

A wide receiver (WR) is a player on the offense who is tasked with catching the football thrown by the quarterback and occasionally running the ball. They are a key skill position of the offense and are typically lined up on the line of scrimmage outside of the offensive line. Wide receivers are also responsible for making breaks downfield through open lanes and trying to get open for a pass. Occasionally, they are used to run the ball, usually in plays seeking to surprise the defense, as in an end-around or reverse. Wide receivers can be further classified into different types, such as slot receivers or outside receivers. Slot receivers line up in the offensive backfield, horizontally positioned between the offensive tackle and the split end or between the tight end and the flanker. Meanwhile, outside receivers are tasked with speeding past the defensive secondary to rattle off massive receptions that could very well shift the momentum of the game entirely.