Slot Rankings - How Wide Receivers Score More Touchdowns in the Slot
Slot machines operate exactly the same way every game, so you won't find any secret hacks to beat them. However there are a few things to be aware of to increase your chances of winning.
Take a look at the RTP of a game first. This statistic tells you how many players could win over the course of time.
Slot Efficiency
Slot efficiency is the aim of maximising the number of slot switches that can be used while not 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 objectives and many more. The process of allocation of slots is a complex one and optimizing it to achieve the desired performance metrics requires careful analysis of all the factors that are in play.
In general, the process starts by identifying the types of requests that are to be prioritized according to established historical precedence. Once the type is identified, the slot allocation model is then used to minimize the delay criteria. Many research gaps have been found in relation to the slot scheduling models that optimize particularly when it comes to trying to balance fairness and efficiency.
ABC (assigned in accordance with velocity) is a popular strategy for prioritizing slot assignment. This method collects the item's information and then determines the grouping based on velocity. Items with the highest velocity are given the best slots, whereas less popular 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 for the pick-to-ship process. The calculation takes into consideration the velocity group of the items as well as their racking placements and the characteristics of handling equipment.
It is also important to take into consideration the costs associated with a slot change to improve the efficiency of the slot. Managers can estimate the cost of a typical shift in slot and the impact it has on other aspects of slot efficiency such as speed by studying the typical slot.
After spending a month or two validating the data and re-dating recommendations after which the casino began using the software more frequently. The gaming operations team estimates that they will save 10-12 hours a month on their traditional analyses and this doesn't include time spent reviewing customer-rated data or preparing and analyzing new strategies that are actionable.
The team was able using the new recommendations provided by SRE to make a number of game modifications that increased the revenue of players. In particular, 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 from marketing and other expenses to improving the floor's performance.
Perimeter Efficiency
We all know that wide receivers tend to score more touchdowns on targets that are in the perimeter than slot targets, since they're usually targeted way downfield and often have one-on-one coverage. But what might surprise people is the difference between the top five slot receivers and the rest of them in scoring on those perimeter targets.
Of the wide receivers who have been on at least 40 targets each of the 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 this list is dominated by players who are more possession-based like Chris Godwin and Diontae Johnston. The Bucs are likely to shift the latter two players into the slot more often this season, which should increase their targets. However, they'll need to improve their scoring from the perimeter to keep their high standards.
Speedy wideouts are the biggest beneficiaries of moving into the slot, because they generally have an easier time getting open downfield when their route isn't covered by a linebacker or cornerback. The only wide receiver who isn't speedy on the list who benefits from more slot work is Corey Coleman, as he's an extremely reliable player on intermediate and short routes.
The bottom of the list is populated by possession-based receivers who perform better on intermediate and short routes than those in deep areas like Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler. Jeudy is a solid sleeper pick this year as he'll be the primary slot receiver for the Rams while Courtland Sutton and Amari Cooper are expected to play on more downfield targets. Hamler will thrive on more short-to-middle and intermediate routes, because this is where he was at his best when playing for the Bills in 2021. He could be an excellent replacement for the departing wideout Jordan Matthews.
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. It's not always a true reflection of a receiver's abilities, as some receivers are better in the slot, but they can't play more deep.
Alshon Jeffrey, for instance, leads the league in goals per game (4.8), but is only 6th in the slot that receives scores (58.5). This is due to the fact that the majority of his targets come from outside, and it's a challenge to make a first down on an open, deep 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 ran 74% of his route in the slot, compared to only 26% of his boundaries routes. That's a huge improvement and indicates how much more efficient the player is when positioned in the slot.
Chris Godwin, a Buccaneers player, lines up inside the majority of the time on his passing downs and is among the top five slot receiving scores (58.5). However he also ran 51% of his perimeter routes in the last season, and is a star in one-on-one coverage.
Speed receivers are usually more effective when lined up inside, since they are able to be targeted down the field and often are in 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 other hand there are some excellent slot cornerbacks like McDuffie and Moore in this group. Both have been able to create pressures in the passing game and have McDuffie leading the NFL with seven forced fumbles, and Moore having the best tackle stop performance on this list (-3.5). Through using McDuffie in the slot when they are running nickel or dime packages and then placing him on the outside of base defense, Spagnuolo has maximized his capabilities. In addition, Moore's ability to stop big run plays has been an enormous advantage when playing in 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 outside. This is mainly because quarterbacks are more consistent in their target distribution when they throw to slot and outside wide receivers than other inside options such as tight ends and backfield passers.
It's also interesting to see a receiver such as CeeDee Lamb on this list in 2022, as he plays the slot in three WR sets, and flanker in two of the sets. He's actually running more routes in the slot than most of the players on this list. This is an excellent opportunity to create matchup benefits for your team and helps clarify why Lamb is the highest-rated slot receiver in our system this season.
sources tell me plays the X-position and makes huge plays from outside. Lamb isn't nearly as explosive as the players in this list however, he's a very high-graded receiver and is a perfect fit for the Cowboys scheme.
Mecole Hardman is another example of a player capable of putting up huge numbers on both kinds of targets. He has a high slot receiver grade and is one of the best players in the league at catching back-shoulder throws, but he's also an excellent player for contested-catch.
Another player on this list who'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 plays this season. He has the third-lowest EPA for targets and the fifth-best EPA for run stops among cornerbacks who play in the slot. This makes him a valuable player in the defensive unit. On the contrary, he's been unable to block passes from the outside and has given the negative EPA against these types of targets. This has been a result of playing with subpar linebackers and safeties that don't have the same size, speed and route-running ability.