Skill position

Skill positions in gridiron football are the positions that are most responsible for causing or preventing points from being scored. The skill positions are:

• Quarterback
• Running back, particularly halfback
• Wide receiver
• Slotback, especially in Canadian football
• Cornerback
• Safety
• Return specialist
• Less commonly, linebacker and defensive end

Skill positions are often contrasted with linemen – players who line up along the line of scrimmage. Skill position players are generally smaller than linemen, but they must also be faster and have other talents (such as the ability to throw or catch the ball, cover an opposing receiver, or to dodge opponents) that rely more on finesse than on brute force. Positions that are not considered "skill positions" would include nose tackles, defensive tackles, offensive linemen, fullbacks, and tight ends (though the latter two positions can be either skill or non-skill, depending on the situation).

Placekickers, punters, long snappers and holders are usually considered separate from both the skill positions and the lineman positions, due to their highly specialized lines of work.