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

Slot machines function exactly the same way every game, so you won't discover any secret tricks to beat them. However, there are a few things you can be aware of to maximize your winning potential.

First, check out the game's RTP. This number tells you how many players are likely to win on average over the long run.

Slot Efficiency

The objective of efficiency in slot machines is to maximize the number of changes to the slot 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 targets, and more. The slot allocation process can be a complex process, and optimizing it in order to meet the desired performance metrics requires thorough analysis of the variables involved.

The process starts by identifying the different types of requests to be prioritised in accordance with precedents from the past. Once the type of request is identified the slot allocation model is used to reduce the delay the criterion. However, there are many research gaps have been discovered related to the optimization of slot scheduling models, especially when trying to balance fairness and efficiency.

ABC (assigned based on velocity) is a popular method of prioritizing slot assignments. This strategy collects item information and then determines the grouping based on velocity. Items with the fastest speed are allocated the top modern slots in the warehouse, while items with lower speeds are assigned to the back.

The distance factor is another key element in slot efficiency. It determines the amount of space required to support the pick-to ship process. The factor takes into account the velocity of the items as in addition to their placement on racking and the characteristics of handling equipment.

It is crucial to be aware of the costs of a change in the slot in order to increase the efficiency of the slot. A quick analysis of the typical slot change will help managers understand the cost of the move, and also the impact that it might have on other aspects of slot efficiency, including speed.

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Perimeter Efficiency

We all know that wide receivers tend score more touchdowns when they are able to hit the perimeter targets instead of slot targets. This is due to the fact that they are typically targeted downfield and usually are in one-on-one coverage. What might be surprising to some is that there's a difference between the top five slot receivers and the rest in terms of scoring on perimeter targets.

Of the wide receivers that have been on at least 40 targets each of the last two seasons the top five slot scorers on the perimeter routes were all speed receivers: Mike Evans, Amari Cooper, Tyler Lockett and Michael Gallup. The bottom of the list was filled with more possession-based receivers including Chris Godwin and Diontae Johnson. These two are likely to see an increase in their targets this season if the Bucs move them into the slot more often, but they'll need to improve their scoring on the perimeter to keep that high level.

The slot is a great option for wideouts that are fast, as they are able to open more quickly when their route will not be covered by a cornerback or linebacker. The only wide receiver who isn't speedy on the list that benefits from more slot time is Corey Coleman, as he's an extremely reliable player on intermediate and short routes.

Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler and other possession-based receivers are at the low end of the list. They're more effective on intermediate and short routes, rather than deep zones. Jeudy will be the Rams' primary slot receiver this year is a sleeper selection. Courtland Cooper and Amari Sutton are likely to play a bigger role in downfield targets. Hamler will be a natural on short-to-mid-long and intermediate routes, as it was where he excelled when playing for the Bills in 2021. Hamler could be a great replacement for the departed wideout Jordan Matthews in Buffalo.

Percentage of Snaps In Slot

The proportion of snaps that a receiver makes in the slot is a good indicator of their ability to play deep routes. However, it isn't always an accurate representation of a receiver's abilities because some receivers excel in the slot, but can't play deep and vice versa.

For instance, the Eagles Alshon Jeffery leads the league in targets per game (4.8) but is ranked sixth in slot receiving score (58.5). This is because the majority of his targets come from outside and it's hard to get a first down when playing an open, deep route.

Some receivers are better playing inside, while others struggle to do so on the outside. Robby Anderson, for example, was given 978 snaps by the Panthers this season. He logged 74% of his routes in the slot, compared to only 26% of his boundaries routes. This is a significant difference and shows how much more productive Robby Anderson is when he's aligned in the slot.

Chris Godwin, a Buccaneers player, is inside most of his passing downs. He is among the top five slot receiving scores (58.5). He also ran 51% of his perimeter routes and is a pro in one-on-1 coverage.

Speed receivers are more efficient when they line up inside. They are able to be targeted further down the field and often face one-on-1 coverage. This is why you'll find names like Julio Jones, Mike Evans, and Amari Cooper in the top five of our list.

On the flip side we have some outstanding slot cornerbacks such as McDuffie and Moore in this group. Both have been able to generate pressures in the passing game with McDuffie leading the NFL with seven forced fumbles, and Moore being the most effective tackle stop rate on this list (-3.5). By deploying McDuffie in the slot when they are running nickel or dime packages and then deploying him on the outside of base defense, Spagnuolo has maximized his skills. Moore's ability in stopping big run plays is a huge advantage when playing the slot.

Percentage of Snaps Outside

While top NFL receivers like Golden Tate, Larry Fitzgerald and Baldwin excel on the perimeter however, their slot counterparts are also just as effective. Wide receivers who have an excellent slot grade score touchdowns in the same way as those on the perimeter. This is due to the fact that quarterbacks are more consistent in their targets when they throw to outside and slot wide receivers, as opposed to other inside options such as backfield passers and tight ends.

It's therefore interesting to see a receiver such as CeeDee lamb on this list for 2022. He plays the slot in three WR sets and flanker in two of them. In fact, he's running a higher number of slot routes than most of the players listed on this list. This is an excellent opportunity to create matchup advantages for your team and helps explain why Lamb is rated as the top-rated slot receiver in our system this season.

Lamb also plays at the X-position, and can make big plays from outside. Lamb isn't as awe-inspiring as the other players in this ranking, but he's still highly skilled and is an excellent player for the Cowboys' scheme.

Mecole Hardman is another example of a player who's capable of putting up huge numbers on both types of targets. He's among the top players in the game at taking throws from behind his shoulders. He's also a fantastic catcher who is contested.

Another player on this list that's a slot specialist in the true sense is Baltimore's Jalen Hilton, who has lined up in the slot on 85.7 percent of his defensive snaps this season. He has the third-lowest EPA for targets, and the fifth-best EPA for runs stopped among cornerbacks in the slot. This makes him a key player in the defensive line. He's had a difficult time stopping passes from outside, and his EPA against this type of target is negative. This has been a result of playing with poor linebackers and safeties who can't match up with Hilton's size, speed and route-running ability.