Slot Rankings - How Wide Receivers Score More Touchdowns in the Slot
Slots work in the same way for each spin, which means you won't discover any secret tricks to beat them. However, there are a few things you can keep in mind to maximize your winning potential.
First, you should check a game's RTP. This statistic tells you how many players could win over the long run.
Slot Efficiency
The aim of efficiency in slot machines is to maximize the number of slot changes that can be made, without violating a predefined set of constraints. These constraints usually comprise the minimum allowed operational delay (usually expressed in terms of scheduling delays), fairness and equity access and competition, environmental objectives, and more. The slot allocation process is a complicated one and optimizing it to meet the desired performance metrics requires careful analysis of all the factors that are in play.
The process begins by identifying the kinds of requests to prioritize in accordance with precedents from the past. Once the type of request has been determined the slot allocation model is utilized to reduce the delay criterion. However, numerous research gaps have been discovered regarding the optimization of slot scheduling models, particularly when trying to balance fairness and efficiency.
ABC (assigned based on velocity) is a popular method for prioritizing slot allocation. This strategy gathers information about the item's history and then selects 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.
Rain Bet is another important element in the efficiency of slot machines. It is a measure of the amount of space required to support the pick-to ship process. The factor considers the velocity group, racking placements and the characteristics of handling equipment of the items.
It is also important to be aware of the costs associated with a slot change in order to increase the efficiency of the slot. A quick look at the typical slot change will aid managers in determining the costs associated with the move, and also the effects it may affect other aspects of slot efficiency, such as velocity.
After spending a few months reviewing the data, and back-dating the recommendations, the casino began using the software more frequently. The gaming operations team estimates they will save 10-12 hours a month by using their traditional analysis and this doesn't include time spent reviewing the customer-rated data or developing and analyzing new strategies that can be implemented.
Using the new recommendations from SRE the team was able to come up with hundreds of 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 expenses 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, since they're usually targeted way downfield and often face one-on-one coverage. However, what may surprise some is the distinction between the top five slot receivers and the rest in scoring on those perimeter targets.
Mike Evans, Amari cooper, Tyler Lockett, and Michael Gallup were the top five scorers on perimeter routes of the 66 wide receivers who received at least 40 targets in each of the two previous seasons. The bottom of this list is dominated by receivers 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 have to improve their scoring on the perimeter to maintain their high standard.
The slot is the best option for wideouts that are quick, since they can get open more quickly when their route will not be covered by a linebacker or cornerback. The only non-speedy wide receiver on the list who can benefit from slot work is Corey Coleman, as he's an extremely reliable receiver on intermediate and short routes.
The last spot on the list features more possession-based receivers who perform better on intermediate and short routes than in deep areas like Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler. Jeudy is a solid option to be a sleeper for this season since he'll be the primary slot receiver for the Rams while Courtland Sutton and Amari Cooper are largely expected to play on more downfield targets. Hamler, meanwhile, should excel on shorter-to-mid and intermediate routes, since it was where he excelled when playing for the Bills in 2021. He could be an excellent replacement for the departing wideout Jordan Matthews.
Percentage of Snaps in the Slot
The proportion of snaps receivers take in the slot can be a good indicator of their ability to run routes deep. It's not always a reliable indicator of a receiver's abilities, as some receivers are better in the slot but don't play more deep.
Alshon Jeffrey, for instance is the league leader 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 because the majority of his targets are from outside, and it's a challenge to get a first down in an open, deep route.
On the other hand, certain receivers excel in playing inside, but struggle on the outside. For instance the Panthers gave Robby Anderson 978 snaps last season, and he ran 74% of his slot routes, compared to only 26% on boundary routes. This is a significant distinction and demonstrates how much more efficient Robby Anderson is when he is aligned to the slot.
Furthermore 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). However he also ran 51% of his perimeter routes in the last season and is a top performer in one-on-one coverage.
Speed receivers are usually more effective when lining up inside, because they are able to be targeted down the field, and often have 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 such as McDuffie and Moore in this group. Both have been able to create pressures during the passing game with McDuffie leading the NFL with seven forced fumbles. Moore being the most effective tackle stop performance on this list (-3.5). Spagnuolo maximized McDuffie's skills by putting him in the slot for nickel and dime packs and then moving him to the outside when playing base defense. In addition, Moore's ability to stop big run plays has been a huge asset when playing in 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 important to note that their slot counterparts are equally good. As a whole wide receivers with a high slot receiving grade score touchdowns roughly at the same rate as those who play on the outside. This is mostly because 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 interesting to see a receiver like CeeDee lamb on this list for 2022. He plays the slot in 3 WR sets and flanker in two of the sets. In fact, he's running a higher number of routes in the slot than most 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 highest-graded receiver in our system.
He also plays at the X-position and makes big plays from outside. Lamb isn't as powerful as the players in this ranking however, he's highly skilled and is an excellent match for the Cowboys' scheme.
Mecole Hardman is a further example of a player who's capable of putting up big 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 a great opponent for contested catch.
Jalen Hilton is another player who is slot specialist. He's lined up in this position on 85.7 percent of his defensive snaps so far this season. He's allowed the third-lowest target EPA and the fifth-best run stop EPA for cornerbacks that are aligned in the slot, which makes him a valuable player in the defense of his team. On the other hand, he's had trouble to block passes from the outside and has been able to give a negative EPA against these kinds of targets. This is the result of playing alongside subpar linebackers and safeties that don't have the same size, speed and route-running ability.