The Facts:
Johnson, the Bills' No. 1 receiver, is seeing most of his work at an inside position in the slot this summer. That's a big change. Johnson worked almost exclusively at the outside, X-receiver spot, in catching more than 1,000-yards in passes each of the past three seasons.
Reported by the Buffalo News
Fantasy Football Diehards Line:
As News staffer Mark Gaughan pointed out, the Bills have more outside receiving options this season. It looks like they're going to have the luxury of playing Johnson mostly inside, where his separation ability could be a huge asset to the passing game. Rookie Robert Woods and second-year man T.J. Graham are battling to be the second starting receiver, opposite Johnson. But the reality is the Bills likely will have three receivers on the field a majority of the time. Graham is an outside, vertical threat. Woods has the ability to play inside or outside, but he spent most of his college career playing outside. Rookie Marquise Goodwin is a vertical threat who could play inside or outside. Johnson, meanwhile, is the best inside receiver on the Bills' roster. And Gaughan notes that giving a No. 1 receiver more snaps in the slot could become a trend. Indianapolis did it last year with Reggie Wayne, playing him in the slot more than 50 percent. Detroit increased Calvin Johnson's slot snaps from 15 percent to 23 percent last year. Stevie Johnson played outside 83 percent and in the slot 17 percent last season. “It's easy money,” says Johnson, because he has more room to go in either direction from the slot.
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