Slot Rankings - How Wide Receivers Score More Touchdowns in the Slot
Slot machines operate exactly the same way every spin, which means you won't discover any secret tricks to beat them. There are some tips you can follow to increase your chances of winning.
Check out the RTP of a particular game first. This number shows how many players are likely to win on average over the course of time.
Slot Efficiency
The goal of slot efficiency is of maximising the amount of slot switches that can be made while avoiding the violation of the constraints that are predefined. These constraints usually include the minimum permitted operational delay (usually expressed in terms of scheduling delays) fairness and equity, access and competition, environmental targets 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 at play.
The process begins by identifying the kinds of requests to be prioritised by reference to precedents from the past. Once the type is determined and the slot allocation model is developed, it is then utilized to minimize the delay criteria. However, many research gaps have been observed in the optimization of slot scheduling models especially when trying to balance fairness and efficiency.
A common method for prioritizing slot assignments is the ABC (assigned by velocity) strategy that collects information on the history of an item and creates a velocity group. Items with the highest velocity are given the best slots, whereas less popular items are placed farther back in the warehouse.
The distance factor is a key element in slot efficiency. It is a measure of the amount of space needed to facilitate the pick-to-ship process. The factor takes into account the velocity of the items, as in addition to their placement on racking and handling characteristics of the equipment.
To increase slot efficiency In order to increase the efficiency of slot machines, it is important to think about the cost of the change to a particular slot. Managers can assess the costs of a typical change in slot and its impact on other aspects of slot efficiency like velocity by analyzing a typical slot.
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Perimeter Efficiency
We all know wide receivers score more touchdowns when they're able to hit the perimeter targets instead of slot targets. This is due to the fact that they are typically targeted downfield, and often face one on one coverage. But what might surprise people is the distinction between the top five slot receivers and the rest of them when it comes to scoring on these targets that are located in the perimeter.
Mike Evans, Amari cooper, Tyler Lockett, and Michael Gallup were the top five scorers on perimeter routes. They were among the 66 wide receivers who saw at least 40 targets during each of the previous two seasons. The bottom of the list was filled with more possession-based receivers including Chris Godwin and Diontae Johnson. The Bucs will likely move the two latter players into the slot more often this season, which will increase their targets. However, they'll need to improve their scoring from the perimeter to maintain their high standard.
Speedy wideouts are the main beneficiaries of moving into the slot, as they typically are more likely to be open in the field when their route isn't covered by a cornerback or linebacker. Corey Coleman is the only wide receiver who isn't a speedy wideout but would benefit from more slot time. He's a reliable target for short and intermediate routes.
The last spot on the list features more possession-based receivers who are better on short and intermediate routes than deep ones such as Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler. Jeudy is a great sleeper pick this year as he'll be the primary slot receiver for the Rams while Courtland Sutton and Amari Cooper are expected to be involved in more downfield targets. Hamler is likely to be a star on short-to-mid routes, as that's the way he performed in 2021 when he played for the Bills. Hamler could be a great replacement for the departing wideout Jordan Matthews.
Percentage of Snaps In Slot
The proportion of snaps a receiver takes in the slot can be a good indicator for their ability to run deep routes. However, it's not always a reliable indicator of a receiver's abilities as some receivers excel in the slot but cannot play deep, and vice versa.
For instance for instance, the Eagles' Alshon Jeffery leads the league in the number of targets per game (4.8) but is ranked sixth in slot receiving score (58.5). This is because most of his targets have come from the outside and it's hard to score a first-down on a wide-open, deep route in this setting.
On contrary, some receivers excel at playing inside, but struggle on the perimeter. For instance the Panthers handed Robby Anderson 978 snaps during the season, and he ran 74% of his slot routes compared to just 26% on boundary routes. This is a significant difference and illustrates how much more efficient the player is when positioned in the slot.
Additionally, 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). He also played 51% of his perimeter routes and is a pro in one-on-1 coverage.
Speed receivers tend to be more effective when they line up inside. They are able to be targeted further down the field, and often face one-on-one coverage. That's why you'll see names like Julio Jones, Mike Evans and Amari Cooper in the top five of our list.
McDuffie, Moore and other slot cornerbacks are also in this group. McDuffie leads the NFL in forced fumbles with seven, and Moore is the most effective tackle-stop performance (-3.5) on this list. By using McDuffie in the slot when they are running nickel or dime packages and then deploying him on the outside of base defense, Spagnuolo has maximized his abilities. Moore's ability to stop big run plays is a huge 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 just as effective. As a group wide receivers who have high slot receiving grades score touchdowns around the same rate as those who are on the perimeter. This is due to the fact that quarterbacks are more consistent with their target distribution when they throw to outside and slot wide receivers, as opposed to other inside options like tight ends and backfield passers.
That's why it's interesting to see a receiver like CeeDee Lamb on this list in 2022 since he plays slot in three WR sets and flanker in two of the sets. Lamb is running more routes in the slot than many of the players on this chart. This is an excellent method to gain matchup advantages for your team. It also helps explain why Lamb is the top-rated receiver in our system.
Of course, he also plays the X position and makes big plays from the perimeter, too. Lamb isn't nearly as explosive as the other players in this ranking however, he's a very high-graded receiver and is an excellent player for the Cowboys' scheme.
Mecole Hardman, a different player who is able to put huge numbers with both types of targets, is another example. He is one of the best in the league when it comes to throwing throws from behind his shoulders. He's also a great contested-catch player.
Jalen Hilton is another player who is slot specialist. He's lined up in this position on 85.7 percent his defensive snaps to date. He's allowed the third-lowest target EPA and the fifth-best run stop EPA among cornerbacks who are 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 kind of target is negative. This is due to him playing with linebackers and safety who cannot match Hilton's speed, size or ability to run routes.