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

Slot machines function in the same way for each spin, so you won't be able to discover any secret tricks to beat them. However there are some things you can be aware of to increase your chances of winning.

Find out the RTP of a particular game first. This number tells you how many players are likely to win over the long run.

Slot Efficiency

The aim 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 may include, for instance the minimum operational delay (usually expressed as scheduling delays), fairness, equity access, competition, environmental goals and many more. The process of allocation of Wild Slots isn't easy and optimizing it to meet the desired performance metrics requires a careful analysis of the factors involved.

The process begins by identifying the kinds of requests that need to be prioritized by reference to the past experience. Once the type of request is determined and a slot allocation model is used to reduce the delay the criterion. However, many research gaps have been identified related to the optimization of slot scheduling models, particularly when the balance between fairness and efficiency is being maintained.

A common method for prioritizing slot assignments is the ABC (assigned by velocity) strategy that gathers item history data and determines a velocity group. Items with the highest speed are allocated the top scatter slots in the warehouse, while those with lower speed are placed further behind.

Another key element of slot efficiency is the distance factor, which is the amount of space that has to be allotted to support the pick-to-ship process. The measure considers the speed group, racking placements and the handling characteristics of the products.

To increase the efficiency of a slot It is also crucial to think about the costs associated with any slot change. A quick look at a typical slot change can help managers understand the cost of the move, and also the effects it may affect other aspects of slot efficiency, such as velocity.

After spending a few months testing the data and re-evaluating the recommendations, the casino began using the system more often. The gaming operations team estimates that they can save between 10-12 hours per month on their traditional analysis. This does not include the time spent reviewing the data of customers or developing a new, actionable strategy.

Based on the new recommendations from SRE the team was able make numerous suggestions for game changes which increased revenue for players. Particularly, Dancing Drums Explosion and Twinstar Wave XL both from Scientific Games, saw big gains in the premium lease and WAP rankings. The casino was also able to shift their budget away from marketing and other costs to enhancing floor performance.

Perimeter Efficiency

We all know that wide receivers are more likely to score more touchdowns on targets that are in the perimeter than slot targets because they're often targeted farther downfield and are often faced with one-on-one coverage. What may be surprising to some, however, is that the top five slot players and the rest of the group score differently on targets in the perimeter.

Of the wide receivers who have been on at least 40 targets in 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. The Bucs are likely to shift the latter two players into the slot more often this season, which could increase their targets. However, they'll need to improve their scoring from the perimeter to keep their high standards.

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

The bottom of the list is populated by possession-based receivers that are more effective on short and intermediate routes than those in deep areas such as Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler. Jeudy is a great sleeper pick this year as the Rams' primary slot receiver for the Rams while Courtland Sutton and Amari Cooper are expected to play on more downfield targets. Hamler is likely to excel on short-to-mid routes, as that's what he did well in 2021 while playing for the Bills. He could be an excellent replacement for the departing wideout Jordan Matthews.

Percentage of Snaps in the Slot

The proportion of snaps a receiver makes in the slot could be a good indicator for their ability to run routes that are deep. It is not always an accurate reflection of a receiver's skills, as certain receivers are better in the slot and can't play deeper.

Alshon Jeffrey, as an example, leads the league in the number of targets he receives per game (4.8), but is only 6th in the position that scores (58.5). This is due to the fact that the majority of his targets have come from the outside, and it's hard to gain a first down on a wide-open, deep route in this setting.

On the other hand, certain receivers excel inside, but struggle on the outside. Robby Anderson, for instance, was given 978 snaps by the Panthers this season. He completed 74% of his routes in the slot, as opposed to just 26% on boundary routes. This is a huge distinction and demonstrates how much more productive Anderson is when aligned to the slot.

Chris Godwin, a Buccaneers player, lines up in the middle of the field most of the time on his passing downs. He has one of the top five slot receiving scores (58.5). He also ran 51% of his perimeter routes and is an expert in one-on-1 coverage.

Speed receivers are more effective when they align inside. They can be targeted further down the field and are often swarmed by one-on-1 coverage. That's 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 also belong to this group. McDuffie is the leader in the NFL in forced fumbles having seven, and Moore has the highest tackle-stop performance (-3.5) on this list. By using McDuffie in the slot when they run nickel or dime packages, and then placing him on the outside of base defense, Spagnuolo has maximized his abilities. Moore's ability in stopping big run plays is a major asset when playing the slot.

Percentage of Snaps Outside

While top NFL receivers such as Golden Tate, Larry Fitzgerald and Baldwin excel on the perimeter but their slot counterparts are also just as effective. As a whole wide receivers with a high slot receiver grade score touchdowns at roughly the same rate as players who are on the perimeter. This is due to the fact that quarterbacks have a more stable target distribution when throwing to slot and outside receivers compared to other inside options like tight ends and backfield pass-catchers.

It's therefore fascinating to see a player like CeeDee lamb on this list for 2022. He plays the slot in 3 WR sets and flanker in two of the sets. He's running more routes in the slot than many of the players listed on this chart. This is a great way to gain matchup advantages for your team. It also helps to explain why Lamb is the highest-graded receiver in our system.

Of course, he also plays the X position, and makes some big plays on the perimeter as well. Lamb isn't as explosive as some of the other players on this list but he is still an elite wide receiver who is well-suited to the Cowboys scheme.

Mecole Hardman, a player who can put huge numbers with targets of all kinds, is a different example. He has a very high slot receiving grade and is one of the best players in the league at catching back-shoulder throws, but he's also an excellent opponent for contested catch.

Jalen Hilton is another player who is a slot specialist. He has lined up 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, which makes him a crucial part of his team's defense. On the other hand, he's had trouble to block passes from the outside and has given an unfavorable EPA against these types of targets. This is the result of playing with subpar linebackers and safeties that don't have the same size and speed, as well as his route-running abilities.