Slot Rankings - How Wide Receivers Score More Touchdowns in the Slot

Slot machines operate exactly the same way every spin, which means you won't discover any secrets to beat them. There are some tips that you can apply to increase your chances of winning.

Check out the RTP of a particular game first. This is a measure of how much players can anticipate winning in the long run.

Slot Efficiency

The aim of slot efficiency is to maximize the number of slot changes that can be made without breaking a predefined set of constraints. These constraints typically include the minimum permitted operational delay (usually expressed in terms of scheduling delays) fairness and equity access and competition, environmental goals and many more. The process of distributing slots isn't easy, and optimizing it to meet the desired performance metrics requires a careful analysis of the factors involved.

The process starts by identifying the different types of requests to be prioritised by reference to the past experience. Once the type of request is determined the slot allocation model is used to reduce the delay criteria. However, there are many research gaps have been discovered regarding the optimization of slot scheduling models, particularly when trying to balance fairness and efficiency.

A common method for prioritizing slot assignments is the ABC (assigned by velocity) strategy that gathers information about the history of items and then determines a velocity group. Items that have the highest speed are given the best slots in the warehouse, while items with slower speed are placed further back.

The distance factor is another key element in slot efficiency. It is a measure of the amount of space required to facilitate the pick-to-ship process. The calculation takes into consideration the velocity of the items as along with their rack placements and handling characteristics of the equipment.

It is important to also consider the cost of a change in the slot in order to increase slot efficiency. A quick look at a typical slot change can aid managers in determining the cost of the move, and the effects it may have on other elements of slot efficiency, like speed.

After a couple of months validating the data, and then re-dating the recommendations, the casino began using the system more often. The gaming operations team estimates that they will save between 10 and 12 hours per month with their traditional analysis, which doesn't include the time spent reviewing customer-rated data or preparing and analyzing new strategies that are actionable.

The team was able with the help of the new recommendations offered by SRE to make dozens game changes that resulted in more the revenue of players. In particular, Dancing Drums Explosion and Twinstar Wave XL, both from Scientific Games, saw big increases in the premium lease and WAP rankings. The casino also managed to shift their budget from marketing and other costs to improving the floor's performance.

Perimeter Efficiency

We all know wide receivers are more likely to score touchdowns when they're in a position to hit perimeter targets, rather than slot targets. This is because they are usually targeted downfield and usually face one on one coverage. What might surprise some, however, is the fact that the top five slot players and the rest of the group score different on targets that are outside.

Mike Evans, Amari cooper, Tyler Lockett, and Michael Gallup were the top five scorers in the slot on perimeter routes. They were among the 66 wide receivers who saw at least 40 targets in each of the two previous seasons. The bottom of this list is dominated by receivers who are more possession-based such as Chris Godwin and Diontae Johnston. The Bucs will likely shift the latter two players into the slot more often during this season, which will increase their targets. However, they'll need to improve their scoring on the perimeter in order to keep their high standards.

The slot is the ideal option for wide receivers who are quick, as they are able to open more quickly when their route will not be covered by a cornerback or linebacker. Corey Coleman is the only wide receiver who isn't a fast wideout but would benefit from more slot work. He's a good target for intermediate and short routes.

The bottom of the list includes more possession-based receivers who perform better on short and intermediate routes than in deep areas, such as Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler. Jeudy is a good sleeper pick this year, as the Rams' primary slot receiver for the Rams while Courtland Sutton and Amari Cooper are likely to be involved on more downfield targets. Hamler will thrive on more short-to-middle and intermediate routes, as it was where he excelled when playing for the Bills in 2021. Hamler could be a fantastic replacement for the departing wideout Jordan Matthews in Buffalo.

Percentage of Snaps in the Slot

The proportion of snaps receivers take in the slot can be a good indicator for their ability to run routes deep. However, it isn't always a reliable indicator of a receiver's abilities because some receivers excel in the slot, but cannot play deep, and vice versa.

For example For instance, the Eagles Alshon Jeffery is the leader in the league in the number of targets per game (4.8) but is only placed sixth in the slot receiving score (58.5). This is due to the fact that the majority of his targets come from outside, and it's a challenge to get a first down when playing a wide-open, deep and wide-open route.

On the other hand, some receivers excel in playing inside, but struggle on the outer. Robby Anderson, for instance was given 978 snaps by the Panthers this season. He logged 74% of his route in the slot, compared to just 26% on boundary routes. This is a significant difference that shows how much more productive Anderson is when he is aligned to the slot.

Chris Godwin, a Buccaneers player, plays inside the majority of his passing downs. He has one of the top five slot receiving scores (58.5). However, he also played 51 percent of his perimeter routes in the last season, and is a star in one-on-one coverage.

Speed receivers are more effective when lined up inside, since they are able to be targeted down the field and often are in one-on-one coverage. You'll find names like Mike Evans, Amari Cooper, and Julio Jones in our top five.

On the flip side we have some outstanding slot cornerbacks such as McDuffie and Moore in this group. Both have been able create pressures in the passing game, with McDuffie leading the NFL with seven forced fumbles, and Moore having the highest tackle stop performance on this list (-3.5). Spagnuolo made McDuffie's abilities more effective by placing him in the slot for nickel and dime packages, and then moving him to the outside for base defense. Moore's ability to stop big run plays is a huge benefit when playing the slot.

Percentage of Snaps Outside

While top NFL receivers such as Golden Tate, Larry Fitzgerald, and Baldwin excel on the perimeter, their slot counterparts are also just as effective. Wide receivers with a high slot grade have touchdowns that are about the same as those on the outside. This is due to the fact that quarterbacks are more consistent in their target distribution when they throw to outside and slot wide receivers rather than other inside options like backfield passers and tight ends.

This is why it's fascinating to see a player like CeeDee Lamb on this list in 2022, as he plays the slot in three WR sets, and flanker in two of them. He's running more routes in the slot than most of the players listed on this chart. This is a great way to create matchup benefits for your team and helps explain why Lamb ranks as the highest-graded slot receiver in our system this season.

He also plays the X-position, and can make big plays from outside. Lamb isn't as explosive as the other players on this list but he is still an elite wide receiver that fits well into the Cowboys scheme.

Mecole Hardman is another example of a player who's capable of putting up big numbers on both targets. He is one of the top players in the game at catching throws from behind his shoulders. He's also a fantastic contested-catch player.

Another player on this list that's a true slot specialist is Baltimore's Jalen Hilton who has been positioned in the slot on 85.7 percent of his defensive plays this season. He's allowed the third-lowest target EPA and the fifth-best run stop EPA among cornerbacks who are aligned in the slot machine tips, making him a valuable player in the defense of his team. He's struggled to stop passes from the outside, and his EPA against this type of target is negative. This has been a result of playing alongside unsafe linebackers who aren't able to match Hilton's size and speed, as well as his route-running abilities.