Kingsbury’s plan for Terry McLaurin is already drawing criticism because the wide receiver’s static alignment for the Washington Commanders in Week 1 is “woefully behind” a major NFL trend involving go-to pass-catchers.

McLaurin spent 87% of his snaps against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1 “lined up on the left side,” according to Jacob Gibbs. The number prompted Matt Harmon of Yahoo to point out that “In a league where teams are being more intentional about deploying their No. 1 WRs in creative, multiple ways to create matchup advantages for them and the whole offense, Washington is woefully behind with its usage of its best wideout by a country mile.”

Even a cursory look at how other teams use their no. 1 targets supports Harmon’s argument. Yet things are unlikely to change for McLaurin, based on how offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has used his receivers in the past.

Moving a marquee receiver all across formations is how creative play-callers manufacture favorable matchups. A roving playmaker is also harder for defenses to isolate and double cover.

Few teams do this better than the Los Angeles Rams, with their expansive deployment of Cooper Kupp. The 2021 triple-crown receiving leader was constantly on the move against the Detroit Lions in Week 1.

Kupp “had 42 snaps and 12 touches in motion in Week 1, the most by any player in a game over the last seven seasons. Kupp was in motion at the snap on 30 plays, 6 more than any other player in a game over that time span,” according to Next Gen Stats.