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 secrets to beat them. However there are a few things to keep in mind to maximize your winning potential.

Find out the RTP of a game before you start. This statistic shows how much players can anticipate winning in the long-term.

Slot Efficiency

Slot efficiency is the goal of maximizing the number of slot switches that can be constructed without violating the constraints that are predefined. These constraints usually include the minimal operational delay (usually expressed in terms of scheduling delays) fairness and equity, access and competition, environmental goals and many more. The slot allocation process isn't easy and optimizing it to achieve desired performance metrics requires a careful examination of the factors involved.

The process begins by identifying the types of requests that need to be prioritized based on historical precedents. Once the type of request is determined, a slot allocation model is utilized to reduce the delay criterion. However, many research gaps have been discovered related to the optimization of slot scheduling models, especially when the balance between fairness and efficiency is being maintained.

A common method of prioritizing slot assignments is the ABC (assigned by velocity) strategy that gathers information on the history of an item and creates a velocity group. Items that have the highest velocity get the best slots, whereas lower velocity items are placed farther back in the warehouse.

Another crucial aspect of slot effectiveness is the distance factor, which determines the amount of space that has to be allocated to support the pick-to ship process. The calculation takes into consideration the velocity of the items, as well as their racking placements and the characteristics of handling equipment.

It is important to also be aware of the costs of a change in the slot to improve the efficiency of your slot. Managers can determine the costs of a typical change to a slot and the impact it has on other aspects of slot efficiency such as speed by studying a typical slot.

After a few months of testing the data and then re-dating the recommendations, the casino began using the solution more frequently. The gaming operations team estimates that they will save 10-12 hours a month with their traditional analysis but that doesn't count the time spent reviewing customer-rated data or developing and analyzing new strategies that are actionable.

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Perimeter Efficiency

We all know that wide receivers tend to score more touchdowns on areas that are not targeted by slot targets, as they're often targeted farther downfield and often face one-on-one coverage. But what might surprise people is the different between the top five slot receivers and the rest in scoring on these perimeter targets.

Mike Evans, Amari cooper, Tyler Lockett, Rain Bet 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 each of the previous two seasons. The bottom of this list is dominated by players who are more possession-based such as Chris Godwin and Diontae Johnston. The Bucs are likely to move the two latter players into the slot more often this season, which will increase their targets. However, they'll have to improve their scoring from the perimeter to maintain their top-of-the-line performance.

Speedy wideouts are among the biggest benefit of moving into the slot, because they generally have an easier time getting open downfield when their route isn't obstructed by a linebacker or cornerback. The only wide receiver who isn't speedy on the list who can benefit from slot work is Corey Coleman, as he's an extremely reliable player on intermediate and short routes.

Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler and other receivers who are based on possession are at the bottom of the list. They are better in intermediate and short routes, rather than in deep areas. Jeudy will be the Rams' primary slot receiver this season is a sleeper selection. Courtland Cooper and Amari Sutton are likely to play a bigger role in downfield targets. Hamler is likely to perform well in short-to-mid routes, as that's what he did well in 2021 while playing for the Bills. He could be a great replacement for the departing wideout Jordan Matthews in Buffalo.

Percentage of Snaps in the Slot

The proportion of snaps a receiver plays in the slot is an excellent indicator of their ability to play deep routes. It's not always an accurate reflection of a receiver's abilities, as certain receivers are better in the slot, but they can't play deeper.

For example for instance, the Eagles' Alshon Jeffery leads the league in targets per game (4.8) but is placed sixth in the slot receiving score (58.5). This is because most of his targets come from the outside, and it's difficult to score a first-down on a wide-open, deep route in that situation.

On contrary, some receivers excel inside and aren't able to do much on the outside. For instance the Panthers gave Robby Anderson 978 snaps this season, and he completed 74% of his slot routes as opposed to just 26% on boundary routes. This is a significant difference and illustrates how much more efficient he is when aligned in the slot.

Chris Godwin, a Buccaneers player, lines up inside the majority of his passes and is among the top five slot receiving scores (58.5). He also played 51% of his perimeter routes and is a master in one-on-one coverage.

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

McDuffie, Moore and other slot cornerbacks are also part of this group. Both have been able generate pressures in the pass game with McDuffie leading the NFL with seven forced fumbles and Moore having the highest tackle stop performance on this list (-3.5). Through using McDuffie in the slot when they're running nickel or dime-type packages, and then deploying McDuffie on the outside in base defense, Spagnuolo has maximized his skills. Moore's ability in stopping big run plays is an enormous advantage when playing the slot.

Percentage of Snaps Outside

While top NFL receivers like Golden Tate, Larry Fitzgerald, and Baldwin excel on the perimeter but their slot counterparts are equally good. Wide receivers with a high slot grade score touchdowns in the same way as those on the perimeter. This is due to the fact that quarterbacks have a more stable target distribution when throwing to slot and outside receivers than to other inside options like tight ends and backfield pass-catchers.

This is why it's fascinating to see a receiver like CeeDee Lamb on this list in 2022, as he plays the slot in three WR sets and flanker in two of the sets. In fact Lamb is running a greater number of routes in the slot than most of the players listed on this list. This is a great method to gain matchup advantages for your team. It also helps explain why Lamb is the top-rated receiver in our system.

He also plays the X-position, and can make big plays on the outside. Lamb isn't as awe-inspiring as the players in this list but he's highly skilled and is a perfect match for the Cowboys' scheme.

Mecole Hardman, another player who can put up big numbers with both types of targets, is a further example. He is one of the best in the league when it comes to catching throws from behind his shoulders. He's also a superb player who can play contested catch.

Another player on this list who'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 has the third-lowest EPA for targets, and the fifth-highest EPA for run stops among cornerbacks in the slot. This makes him an important player in the defensive unit. He has struggled to stop passes from the outside and his EPA against this kind of target is negative. This has been a result of playing alongside subpar linebackers and safeties that can't match up with Hilton's size, speed and route-running ability.