One of the most important skills for an NFL receiver is the ability to create separation. Before a player can show off his catching skills and after-the-catch skills, he has to get himself open.
While there are many instances where a player doesn’t have to work hard to get open – whether he is schemed open by his coordinator or the defense simply doesn’t cover him tightly – there are also plenty of times when a player needs to create separation on his own. This is one of the most difficult things for an offensive player to accomplish, thus making it an extremely valuable and impactful skill.