Slot Rankings - How Wide Receivers Score More Touchdowns in the Slot
Slots work in the same way for each spin, so you won't discover any secrets to beat them. There are a few tricks you can follow to increase your chances of winning.
The first step is to check the game's RTP. This statistic shows how much players should expect to win in the long-term.
Slot Efficiency
The goal of efficiency in slot machines is to maximize the amount of changes that can be made without violating the constraints of a set of pre-defined rules. These constraints typically include the minimum permitted operational delay (usually expressed in terms of scheduling delays), fairness and equity access and competition, environmental goals and many more. The process of distributing 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 begins with the identification of the types of requests to be prioritized based on precedents. Once the type has been identified, the slot allocation model is then employed to reduce the delay criteria. Numerous research gaps have been identified in relation to the slot scheduling models that optimize especially when it comes to trying to balance fairness and efficiency.
A popular method of prioritizing slot assignments is the ABC (assigned by velocity) strategy that gathers item history data and determines a velocity group. Items with the highest velocity are given the most slots, while lower velocity items are placed farther back in the warehouse.
The distance factor is another key element in slot efficiency. It measures the amount of space needed to support the pick-to ship process. The calculation takes into consideration the velocity group of items as well as their racking placements and the characteristics of handling equipment.
To increase slot efficiency, it is also important to think about the costs associated with the change to a particular slot. Managers can assess the costs of a typical shift in slot and the impact it has on other aspects of slot efficiency like velocity by analyzing the typical slot.
After spending a few months testing the data and then re-dating the recommendations, the casino started using the software more frequently. The gaming operations team estimates they will save between 10 and 12 hours each month with their traditional analysis, which doesn't include the time spent reviewing the customer-rated data or preparing and analyzing new strategies that can be implemented.
The team was able, with the help of the new recommendations offered by SRE to make a number of game changes that increased the amount of money players earn. Dancing Drums Explosion, and Twinstar Wave XL from Scientific Games saw significant gains in the premium lease rankings and WAP rankings. The casino also was capable of shifting its budget from marketing to other expenses and increase the floor's performance.
Perimeter Efficiency
We all know that wide receivers are more likely to score more touchdowns on perimeter targets than slot targets, since they're usually targeted way downfield and often face one-on-one coverage. One thing that might be surprising to some however, is the fact that the top five slot players and the rest of the group score different on 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 received at least 40 targets each of the two previous seasons. The bottom of this list is filled with receivers who are more possession-based, like Chris Godwin and Diontae Johnston. These two are likely to see a boost in their targets this season if the Bucs can move them into the slot more frequently, but they'll need to improve their scoring on the perimeter to keep that high level.
Speedy wideouts are among the biggest benefit of moving into the slot, as they typically have a much easier time getting open in the field when their route isn't obstructed by a cornerback or linebacker. The only wide receiver who isn't speedy on the list who benefits from more slot time is Corey Coleman, as he's an extremely reliable player on intermediate and short routes.
Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler and other possession-based receivers are at the low end of the list. They're better on intermediate and short routes, rather than deep zones. Jeudy is expected to be the Rams main slot receiver this season is a sleeper selection. winning slots and Amari Sutton are expected to play a larger role in downfield targets. Hamler should be able to perform well in short-to-mid routes, given that's exactly the way he performed in 2021 while playing for the Bills. Hamler could be a great replacement for the departing wideout Jordan Matthews in Buffalo.
Percentage of Snaps in the Slot
The proportion of snaps that a receiver makes in the slot is a good indicator of their ability to run deep routes. It's not always an accurate reflection of a receiver’s skill set because certain receivers excel in the slot and can't play deeper.
For example for instance, the Eagles Alshon Jeffery leads the league in the number of targets per game (4.8) but is only sixth in the slot receiving score (58.5). This is because the majority of his targets are from outside, and it's a challenge to make a first down on a wide-open, deep and wide-open route.
On the other hand, some receivers excel inside and aren't able to do much 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, as opposed to only 26% on boundary routes. This is a significant difference that shows how much more productive Anderson is when he's aligned with the slot.
Furthermore there is the Buccaneers' Chris Godwin lines in the middle 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 stud in one-on-one coverage.
Speed receivers are usually more effective when lined up inside, because they are able to be targeted down the field, and often find themselves with one-on-one coverage. You'll find names like Mike Evans, Amari Cooper, and Julio Jones in our top five.
On the flip side, we've got some great slot cornerbacks like McDuffie and Moore in this group. McDuffie is the top player in the NFL in forced fumbles with seven, while Moore has the highest tackle-stopping efficiency (-3.5) on this list. By using McDuffie in the slot when they're running nickel or dime packages and then deploying him on the outside of base defense, Spagnuolo has maximized his abilities. Additionally, Moore's ability to stop big run plays has been a tremendous benefit when playing in 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 receiving grade score touchdowns around the same amount as those who play on the outside. This is due to the fact that quarterbacks are more consistent with their targets when they throw to outside and slot wide receivers than other inside options like tight ends and backfield passers.
It's therefore interesting to see a receiver like CeeDee lamb on this list for 2022. He plays the slot in three WR sets and flanker in two of the sets. In actuality Lamb is running a greater number of routes in the slot than most of the players listed on this chart. This is an excellent opportunity to create matchup advantages for your team. It also helps explain why Lamb is the highest-rated slot receiver in our system this season.
He also plays the X-position and makes huge plays on the outside. Lamb isn't as fast as some of the other players on this list but he's an elite wide receiver that fits well into the Cowboys scheme.
Mecole Hardman is a further example of a player who's capable of putting up huge numbers on both targets. He has a very high slot receiving rating and is among the league's best at catching back-shoulder throws, but he's also a great player for contested-catch.
Another player on this list that'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'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 player in the defense of his team. He has struggled to stop passes from the outside, and his EPA against this type of target is negative. This is because he's been playing with linebackers and safety players who can't compete with Hilton's speed, size or route-running abilities.