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

Slots work the same way for every spin, so you won't discover any secrets to beat them. There are a few tricks you can use to maximize your chances of winning.

Check out the RTP of a game before you start. This statistic tells you how many players could win over the course of time.

Slot Efficiency

The objective of efficiency in slot machines is to maximize the amount of changes that can be made, without violating certain constraints. These constraints typically include the minimum permitted operational delay (usually expressed in terms of scheduling delays) fairness and equity access and competition, environmental objectives and many more. The process of distributing slots with bonuses isn't easy, and optimizing it to achieve the desired performance metrics requires a careful analysis of the factors involved.

The process begins by identifying the types of requests to be prioritised based on historical precedents. Once the type has been identified and the slot allocation model is developed, it is then utilized to minimize the delay criteria. Numerous research gaps have been identified regarding the slot scheduling models that optimize particularly when it comes to trying to balance efficiency and fairness.

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 that have the highest speed are given the best slots in the warehouse, whereas items with slower speed are placed further behind.

Another crucial aspect of slot efficiency is the distance factor, which determines the amount of space that needs to be allotted to support the pick-to-ship process. The factor takes into account the velocity group of the items, as along with their rack placements and equipment handling characteristics.

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

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Perimeter Efficiency

We all know that wide receivers tend to score more touchdowns on perimeter targets than slot targets, since 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 that have been on at least 40 targets the past 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 receivers who are more possession-based, such as Chris Godwin and Diontae Johnston. The Bucs are likely to move the two latter players into the slot more often this season, which should increase their targets. However, they'll have to improve their scoring from the perimeter to maintain their high standard.

Speedy wideouts are the main beneficiaries of moving into the slot, because they generally have an easier time getting open in the field when their route isn't obstructed by a linebacker or cornerback. Corey Coleman is the only wide receiver who's not a speedy wideout, but could benefit from more slot work. He's a solid target for Special Slots short and intermediate routes.

Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler and other possession-based receivers are at the low variance slots end of the list. They're better on short and intermediate routes rather than deep areas. Jeudy will be the Rams principal slot receiver this year, is a sleeper pick. Courtland Cooper and Amari Sutton are likely to play a bigger role in downfield targets. Hamler is expected to excel on shorter-to-mid and intermediate routes, since that's where he excelled while playing for the Bills in 2021. Hamler could be a great replacement for departed wideout Jordan Matthews in Buffalo.

Percentage of Snaps in the Slot

The proportion of snaps a receiver takes in the slot is a good indicator [Redirect-Meta-1] of their ability to run deep routes. It's not always an accurate reflection of a receiver’s skill set since some receivers are better in the slot but don't play more deep.

For example for instance, the Eagles Alshon Jeffery leads the league in targets per game (4.8) however, he is placed sixth in the slot receiving score (58.5). This is because the majority of his targets come from outside, and it's a challenge to get a first down in a wide-open, deep route.

Certain receivers are better playing inside, while others struggle to do so on the outside. For instance, the Panthers handed Robby Anderson 978 snaps last season, and he completed a whopping 74% of his slot routes, compared to just 26% on boundary routes. This is a huge distinction and demonstrates how much more productive Anderson is when he's aligned with the slot.

Chris Godwin, a Buccaneers player, lines up in the middle of the field most of the time on his passing downs. He is among the top five slot receiving scores (58.5). However he also played 51% of his perimeter routes last season and is a top performer in one-on-one coverage.

Speed receivers are more effective when they are lined up inside. They are able to be targeted further down the field and are often faced with one-on-one coverage. There are names like Mike Evans, Amari Cooper and Julio Jones in our top five.

On the flip side, we've got some great slot cornerbacks such as McDuffie and Moore in this group. Both have been able to create pressures in the passing game, with McDuffie leading the NFL with seven forced fumbles. Moore being the most effective tackle stop efficiency on this list (-3.5). Spagnuolo increased McDuffie's capabilities by placing him in the slot for nickel and dime packages and then shifting him to the outside when playing base defense. Moore's ability to stop big run plays is an enormous asset when playing the slot.

Percentage of Snaps Outside

While the NFL's top receivers like Baldwin, Golden Tate and Larry Fitzgerald excel on the perimeter, it's also worth noting that their slot counterparts are also good. As a whole wide receivers who have high slot receiving grades score touchdowns at roughly the same amount as those who play on the perimeter. This is mostly because quarterbacks have a more stable target distribution when throwing to slot and outside receivers compared to other inside options such as tight ends and backfield pass-catchers.

That's why it's interesting to see a receiver like CeeDee Lamb on this list in 2022, because he plays the slot in three WR sets, and flanker in two of the sets. In actuality the slot receiver is running a higher number of routes in the slot than most of the players listed on this list. This is a great opportunity to increase matchup benefits for your team. It also helps explain why Lamb is the most highly-rated receiver in our system.

He also plays the X-position and makes big plays outside. Lamb isn't as fast as the other players on this list but he's an elite wide receiver who fits well into the Cowboys scheme.

Mecole Hardman is a further example of a player who's capable of posting big numbers on both types of targets. He is one of the best in the league at catching throws from behind his shoulders. He's also a fantastic contested-catch player.

Another player on this list that's a true slot specialist is Baltimore's Jalen Hilton who has played in the slot on 85.7 percent of his defensive snaps this season. He has the third-lowest EPA for targets, and the fifth-best EPA for run stops among cornerbacks in the slot. This makes him a valuable member of his team's defensive line. He has struggled to stop passes from the outside and his EPA against this type of target is negative. This is due to him playing with linebackers and safety who can't compete with Hilton's speed, size, and route-running abilities.