Detroit Lions are the poster child for not needing a true No. 1 wide receiver

When we think of a No. 1, “alpha” wide receiver” in the NFL, we definitely get a picture in our minds. He has size, all-around ability to dominate every are of the field, he has a dominant target share and he tilts coverage in his direction. In Detroit Lions’ history, Calvin Johnson fully embodies the idea of what a No. 1 wide receiver is. These days the Lions’ top wide receiver, Amon-Ra St. Brown, is an antithesis of what we think of when we picture a No. 1 receiver. He should not be pigeonholed as just a slot receiver, but otherwise he does not fit the general physical template or skill set of the role.

And, as we’ve seen over the last two seasons, the Lions don’t need a No. 1 wide receiver to function properly. Ben Johnson uses a range of formations and personnel groupings, and nothing is off-limits in terms of play calls from any formation.

Doug Farrar of SB Nation delves into why NFL teams don’t need a No. 1 wide receiver anymore. Part of this assumption stems from the scarcity of receivers who entirely fill the bill. The quarterback is free to throw to anyone is open, rather than needing to appease a certain receiver to the cost of the entire offense.

Detroit Lions are poster child for not needing a true No. 1 receiver

Farrar also used the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers as examples of his concept. But the Lions are an automatic example too.

“Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has been turning down head coaching jobs of late – perhaps because he realizes that as much as he’s done with his playbook to amplify Detroit’s offense, he’ll be able to pick his spot in a relative sense….In Johnson’s offense, the Lions ran a lot of 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end, three receivers) and 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends, two receivers). They ranked third in 3×1 formation snaps behind the Chiefs and the Washington Commanders with 515, and they ranked third in 2×2 formation snaps behind the Philadelphia Eagles and the Indianapolis Colts with 627. Factor in Johnson’s multi-faceted run game, and there isn’t one book on the Lions’ offense – making everything more difficult to read.“