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

Slot machines function the same way for every game, so you won't be able to discover any secrets to beat them. However, there are a few things to keep in mind to increase your chances of winning.

First, you should check the game's RTP. This number indicates how many players can expect to win in the long-term.

Slot Efficiency

The goal of slot efficiency is to maximize the number of changes to the slot that can be made, without violating the constraints of a set of pre-defined rules. These constraints usually include the minimal operational delay (usually expressed in terms of scheduling delays), fairness and equity access and competition, environmental goals, and more. The process of allocation of slots is a complicated one and optimizing it to reach the desired performance metrics requires careful analysis of all the factors that are in play.

The process starts by identifying the different types of requests that need to be prioritized in accordance with precedents from the past. Once the type of request is identified the slot allocation model is used to minimize the required delay criteria. A number of research gaps have been discovered regarding the slot scheduling models that optimize particularly when it comes to balancing fairness and efficiency.

ABC (assigned based on velocity) is a well-known method of prioritizing slot assignments. This strategy gathers information about the item's information and then determines the grouping based on velocity. Items with the highest velocity receive the most bonus round slots, while lower velocity items are placed further back in the warehouse.

The distance factor is another crucial element in the slot's efficiency. It determines the amount of space needed to support the pick-to ship process. The factor considers the velocity group, racking locations and the characteristics of handling equipment of the products.

It is also important to be aware of the costs associated with a slot change to increase the efficiency of the slot. A quick analysis of a typical slot change can help managers determine the costs associated with the move, and also the impact that it might have on other elements of slot efficiency, including speed.

After spending a few months validating the data, and then re-dating the recommendations, the casino started using the solution more frequently. The gaming operations team estimates that they will save between 10-12 hours per month on their traditional analysis. This doesn't include the time spent reviewing the data of customers or preparing new, practical strategies.

Based on the new suggestions from SRE the team was able make dozens of game change suggestions that increased player revenue. Dancing Drums Explosion, and Twinstar Wave XL from Scientific Games saw significant gains in the top lease rankings and WAP rankings. The casino was also able to shift their budget away from marketing and other expenses to improving floor performance.

Perimeter Efficiency

We all know wide receivers are more likely to score touchdowns when they are in a position to hit perimeter targets, rather than slot targets. This is due to the fact that they are typically targeted downfield and usually are in one-on-one coverage. But what might surprise people is the distinction between the top five slot receivers and the rest of them in scoring on these perimeter targets.

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

Speedy wideouts are among the biggest beneficiaries of moving into the slot as they typically are more likely to be open in the field when their route isn't obstructed by a cornerback or linebacker. The only non-speedy wide receiver on the list who benefits from slot work is Corey Coleman, as he's an extremely reliable receiver on intermediate and short routes.

Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler and other receivers who are based on possession are at the low end of the list. They are better in short and intermediate routes rather than deep areas. Jeudy is a solid choice for a sleeper this year since he'll be the primary slot receiver for the Rams while Courtland Sutton and Amari Cooper are largely expected to be involved in more downfield targets. Hamler should be able to be a star on short-to-mid routes, given that's exactly what he excelled at in 2021 while playing for the Bills. Hamler could be a fantastic replacement for the departed wideout Jordan Matthews.

Percentage of Snaps in the Slot

The percentage of snaps a receiver plays in the slot is an excellent indicator of their ability to play deep routes. However, it isn't always a reliable indicator of a receiver's skills as some receivers excel in the slot but aren't able to play deep and vice versa.

Alshon Jeffrey, for example leads the league in the number of targets he receives per game (4.8) however, he is only 6th in the position that scores (58.5). This is due to the fact that the majority of his targets been thrown from the outside and it is difficult to get a first down on a wide-open deep route in that setting.

Some receivers are better at playing inside, while others struggle on the outside. Robby Anderson, for instance was given 978 snaps by the Panthers this season. He ran 74% of his routes in the slot, compared to only 26% of his boundaries routes. This is a significant difference and illustrates how much more efficient he is when aligned in the slot.

Additionally there is the Buccaneers' Chris Godwin lines inside on the majority of his passing downs and has a top five slot receiving score (58.5). He also played 51% of his perimeter routes and is a pro in one-on-1 coverage.

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

On the flip side there are some excellent slot cornerbacks such as McDuffie and Moore in this group. McDuffie leads the NFL in forced fumbles having seven, while Moore has the highest tackle-stopping efficiency (-3.5) on this list. By deploying McDuffie in the slot when they run nickel or dime packages, and then deploying McDuffie on the outside in base defense, Spagnuolo has maximized his abilities. Moore's ability to stop big run plays is a major benefit when playing the slot.

Percentage of Snaps Outside

While the NFL's top receivers, such as Baldwin, Golden Tate and Larry Fitzgerald excel on the perimeter, it's also worth noting that their slot counterparts are equally good. As a group, wide receivers with a high slot receiving grade score touchdowns roughly at the same amount as those who are on the edge. This is mostly because quarterbacks have a more stable target distribution when throwing to slot and outside receivers than to other inside options, such as tight ends and backfield pass-catchers.

It's also interesting to see a receiver such as CeeDee Lamb on this list in 2022, since he plays slot in three WR sets and flanker in two of the sets. In actuality the slot receiver is running a higher number of routes in the slot than most of the players listed on this list. This is an excellent opportunity to increase matchup benefits for your team. It also helps explain why Lamb is the highest-graded receiver in our system.

Lamb also plays at the X-position and makes huge plays from outside. Lamb isn't as powerful as the other players on this list but he's an elite wide receiver that is a good fit in the Cowboys scheme.

Mecole Hardman is a further example of a player who's capable of posting big numbers on both types of targets. He has a high slot receiving grade and is one of the league's top players at catching back-shoulder throws however, he's also a formidable contested-catch threat.

Jalen Hilton is another player who is slot specialist. He's been positioned in this position on 85.7 percent of his defensive plays thus far in the season. He's allowed the third-lowest target EPA and the fifth-best run stop EPA among cornerbacks aligned in the slot, making him an important player in the defense of his team. On the other hand, he's had trouble to stop passes from the outside and has given an unfavorable EPA against these types of targets. This is due to him playing with safety and linebackers who can't match Hilton's speed, size, and ability to run routes.