NFL · Empirical Bayes

True-Talent Leaderboards

A raw single-season rate is a noisy guess at a player’s real ability, and the noise is worst for the smallest samples — so a naïve leaderboard is topped by whoever got lucky in the fewest tries. This one shrinks every rate toward its position-group prior by how much the sample can be trusted, and shows a 90% credible interval instead of a point. Toggle raw vs. shrunk to watch the flukes fall back to the pack.

Catch rate · 2019

Receptions per target, shrunk within position (WR vs TE separately). Depth-of-target confound; catchable-target rate not available here.

Beats raw by
18.3%
lower out-of-sample error
RMSE raw → shrunk
11.1% → 9.1%
odd vs. even weeks
Split-half reliability
0.35
how repeatable the raw stat is
Stabilizes at
109 TE · 141 WR
targets to trust the number
shrunkrawthe shrink90% CI
50%60%70%TE avgWR avg1George KittleSF · 10773.7%2Darren WallerLV · 11772.7%3Michael ThomasNO · 18572.4%4Tyler HigbeeLA · 8972.3%5Austin HooperATL · 9971.8%6Kyle RudolphMIN · 4971.7%7Will DisslySEA · 2771.5%8Jonnu SmithTEN · 4471.4%9Ryan GriffinNYJ · 4371.2%10Taysom HillNO · 2271.2%11Foster MoreauLV · 2571.1%12Jason WittenDAL · 8570.7%13Irv SmithMIN · 4770.7%14Hayden HurstBAL · 3970.4%15Blake JarwinDAL · 4170.2%16Travis KelceKC · 13669.9%17Marcedes LewisGB · 1969.7%18Maxx WilliamsARI · 1969.7%19Nick VannettPIT · 2269.7%20Hunter HenryLAC · 7769.5%21Charles ClayARI · 2469.3%22Geoff SwaimJAX · 1769.2%23Kaden SmithNYG · 4369.2%24Darren FellsHOU · 4868.9%25Josh HillNO · 3568.9%26Nick BoyleBAL · 4468.8%27Nick O'LearyJAX · 1868.7%28Benjamin WatsonNE · 2468.6%29Jacob HollisterSEA · 5968.6%30Vance McDonaldPIT · 5568.4%31Tyler LockettSEA · 11067.4%32Adam HumphriesTEN · 4865.7%33Kenny StillsHOU · 5564.8%34Pharoh CooperARI · 3364.4%35Parris CampbellIND · 2463.7%36Ty MontgomeryNYJ · 1763.3%37DeAndre CarterHOU · 1463.3%38Keelan DossLV · 1463.3%39Byron PringleKC · 1663.1%40Kalif RaymondTEN · 1262.8%

Each row is a player: the solid dot is the shrunk estimate, the hollow dot the raw rate, joined by the red pull of regression; the grey bar is the 90% credible interval. A hollow shrunk dot means the sample is below the stabilization line — the number is mostly the position prior. Switch to Raw rank and watch the small-sample names climb.

Catch rate · 2019 · full board

Catch rate leaderboard for the 2019 NFL season, shrunk by empirical Bayes with 90% credible intervals, ranked by the shrunk estimate.
#PlayerTeamPostargetsRawShrunk90% interval
1George Kittle◦ provisionalSFTE10779.4%73.7%68.7%78.5%
2Darren WallerLVTE11776.9%72.7%67.7%77.4%
3Michael ThomasNOWR18580.5%72.4%68.3%76.4%
4Tyler Higbee◦ provisionalLATE8977.5%72.3%67.0%77.4%
5Austin Hooper◦ provisionalATLTE9975.8%71.8%66.5%76.8%
6Kyle Rudolph◦ provisionalMINTE4979.6%71.7%65.6%77.4%
7Will Dissly◦ provisionalSEATE2785.2%71.5%65.0%77.7%
8Jonnu Smith◦ provisionalTENTE4479.5%71.4%65.3%77.2%
9Ryan Griffin◦ provisionalNYJTE4379.1%71.2%65.0%77.1%
10Taysom Hill◦ provisionalNOTE2286.4%71.2%64.5%77.5%
11Foster Moreau◦ provisionalLVTE2584.0%71.1%64.5%77.3%
12Jason Witten◦ provisionalDALTE8574.1%70.7%65.3%76.0%
13Irv Smith◦ provisionalMINTE4776.6%70.7%64.5%76.5%
14Hayden Hurst◦ provisionalBALTE3976.9%70.4%64.1%76.4%
15Blake Jarwin◦ provisionalDALTE4175.6%70.2%63.9%76.1%
16Travis KelceKCTE13671.3%69.9%65.0%74.6%
17Marcedes Lewis◦ provisionalGBTE1979.0%69.7%62.9%76.2%
18Maxx Williams◦ provisionalARITE1979.0%69.7%62.9%76.2%
19Nick Vannett◦ provisionalPITTE2277.3%69.7%62.9%76.1%
20Hunter Henry◦ provisionalLACTE7771.4%69.5%63.8%74.9%
21Charles Clay◦ provisionalARITE2475.0%69.3%62.6%75.7%
22Geoff Swaim◦ provisionalJAXTE1776.5%69.2%62.3%75.8%
23Kaden Smith◦ provisionalNYGTE4372.1%69.2%62.9%75.2%
24Darren Fells◦ provisionalHOUTE4870.8%68.9%62.7%74.9%
25Josh Hill◦ provisionalNOTE3571.4%68.9%62.4%75.1%
26Nick Boyle◦ provisionalBALTE4470.5%68.8%62.5%74.8%
27Nick O'Leary◦ provisionalJAXTE1872.2%68.7%61.8%75.3%
28Benjamin Watson◦ provisionalNETE2470.8%68.6%61.8%75.0%
29Jacob Hollister◦ provisionalSEATE5969.5%68.6%62.6%74.3%
30Vance McDonald◦ provisionalPITTE5569.1%68.4%62.4%74.3%
31James O'Shaughnessy◦ provisionalJAXTE2070.0%68.4%61.5%75.0%
32Jeff Heuerman◦ provisionalDENTE2070.0%68.4%61.5%75.0%
33Virgil Green◦ provisionalLACTE1369.2%68.2%61.2%75.0%
34Josh Perkins◦ provisionalPHITE1369.2%68.2%61.2%75.0%
35Derek Carrier◦ provisionalLVTE1968.4%68.2%61.2%74.7%
36Matt LaCosse◦ provisionalNETE1968.4%68.2%61.2%74.7%
37Ross Dwelley◦ provisionalSFTE2268.2%68.1%61.3%74.6%
38Delanie Walker◦ provisionalTENTE3167.7%68.0%61.4%74.3%
39Robert Tonyan◦ provisionalGBTE1566.7%67.9%60.9%74.6%
40Seth DeValve◦ provisionalJAXTE1866.7%67.9%61.0%74.5%
41Tyler Eifert◦ provisionalCINTE6467.2%67.8%61.8%73.5%
42Adam Shaheen◦ provisionalCHITE1464.3%67.7%60.6%74.4%
43C.J. Uzomah◦ provisionalCINTE4165.8%67.5%61.1%73.6%
44Dallas Goedert◦ provisionalPHITE8766.7%67.5%61.9%72.9%
45Tommy Sweeney◦ provisionalBUFTE1361.5%67.4%60.3%74.2%
46Jared Cook◦ provisionalNOTE6566.1%67.4%61.4%73.1%
47Tyler Lockett◦ provisionalSEAWR11074.6%67.4%62.4%72.1%
48Rhett Ellison◦ provisionalNYGTE2864.3%67.3%60.6%73.8%
49Cameron Brate◦ provisionalTBTE5565.5%67.2%61.1%73.1%
50Jordan Akins◦ provisionalHOUTE5565.5%67.2%61.1%73.1%
51Luke Stocker◦ provisionalATLTE1457.1%66.9%59.8%73.7%
52Dan Arnold◦ provisionalARITE1457.1%66.9%59.8%73.7%
53Ricky Seals-Jones◦ provisionalCLETE2360.9%66.8%60.0%73.4%
54Jeremy Sprinkle◦ provisionalWASTE4163.4%66.8%60.4%73.0%
55O.J. Howard◦ provisionalTBTE5364.1%66.8%60.6%72.8%
56Evan Engram◦ provisionalNYGTE6864.7%66.8%60.9%72.5%
57Mark Andrews◦ provisionalBALTE9865.3%66.8%61.3%72.1%
58Jimmy Graham◦ provisionalGBTE6063.3%66.4%60.3%72.3%
59Jesse James◦ provisionalDETTE2759.3%66.3%59.6%72.9%
60Trey Burton◦ provisionalCHITE2458.3%66.3%59.5%72.9%
61Anthony Firkser◦ provisionalTENTE2458.3%66.3%59.5%72.9%
62Blake Bell◦ provisionalKCTE1553.3%66.3%59.2%73.1%
63Hale Hentges◦ provisionalWASTE1553.3%66.3%59.2%73.1%
64Zach ErtzPHITE13664.7%66.2%61.2%71.1%
65Durham Smythe◦ provisionalMIATE1450.0%66.0%58.9%72.9%
66Keenan AllenLACWR14969.8%65.9%61.3%70.4%
67Logan Thomas◦ provisionalDETTE2857.1%65.9%59.1%72.4%
68Gerald Everett◦ provisionalLATE6061.7%65.8%59.7%71.7%
69Vernon Davis◦ provisionalWASTE1952.6%65.8%58.8%72.5%
70Chris Godwin Jr.◦ provisionalTBWR12270.5%65.8%61.0%70.5%
71Greg Olsen◦ provisionalCARTE8362.6%65.8%60.0%71.3%
72Adam Humphries◦ provisionalTENWR4877.1%65.7%59.9%71.2%
73Cooper Kupp◦ provisionalLAWR13569.6%65.6%60.9%70.2%
74DeAndre HopkinsHOUWR15168.9%65.4%60.8%70.0%
75Eric Ebron◦ provisionalINDTE5259.6%65.4%59.1%71.4%
76Noah Fant◦ provisionalDENTE6660.6%65.3%59.3%71.1%
77Tyler Kroft◦ provisionalBUFTE1442.9%65.2%58.1%72.1%
78Demetrius Harris◦ provisionalCLETE2853.6%65.1%58.3%71.7%
79Ian Thomas◦ provisionalCARTE3053.3%64.9%58.2%71.4%
80Larry Fitzgerald◦ provisionalARIWR10968.8%64.8%59.8%69.7%
81Kenny Stills◦ provisionalHOUWR5572.7%64.8%59.2%70.3%
82N'Keal Harry◦ provisionalNETE2450.0%64.8%57.9%71.5%
83Jordan Matthews◦ provisionalPHITE1233.3%64.7%57.4%71.6%
84Deebo Samuel Sr.◦ provisionalSFWR8269.5%64.6%59.3%69.8%
85Jack Doyle◦ provisionalINDTE7358.9%64.4%58.5%70.2%
86Pharoh Cooper◦ provisionalARIWR3375.8%64.4%58.4%70.3%
87Dawson Knox◦ provisionalBUFTE5056.0%64.3%58.0%70.4%
88Marvin Jones◦ provisionalDETWR9168.1%64.3%59.0%69.4%
89Will Fuller◦ provisionalHOUWR7169.0%64.2%58.7%69.5%
90Albert Wilson◦ provisionalMIAWR6269.3%64.1%58.5%69.5%
91Emmanuel Sanders◦ provisionalSFWR9867.3%64.1%58.9%69.1%
92Sterling Shepard◦ provisionalNYGWR8467.9%64.0%58.7%69.2%
93Hunter Renfrow◦ provisionalLVWR7268.1%63.9%58.4%69.2%
94Amari Cooper◦ provisionalDALWR11966.4%63.9%58.9%68.7%
95Parris Campbell◦ provisionalINDWR2475.0%63.7%57.5%69.7%
96Damiere Byrd◦ provisionalARIWR4669.6%63.7%57.8%69.4%
97Tajae Sharpe◦ provisionalTENWR3571.4%63.7%57.7%69.5%
98Stefon Diggs◦ provisionalMINWR9566.3%63.6%58.4%68.7%
99Calvin Ridley◦ provisionalATLWR9566.3%63.6%58.4%68.7%
100Greg Ward◦ provisionalPHIWR4070.0%63.6%57.6%69.4%
101Mohamed Sanu◦ provisionalNEWR8966.3%63.5%58.3%68.7%
102Bisi Johnson◦ provisionalMINWR4568.9%63.5%57.6%69.2%
103Randall Cobb◦ provisionalDALWR8366.3%63.4%58.1%68.7%
104Julian EdelmanNEWR15464.9%63.4%58.8%68.0%
105Isaiah McKenzie◦ provisionalBUFWR3969.2%63.4%57.4%69.2%
106Ty Montgomery◦ provisionalNYJWR1776.5%63.3%57.0%69.5%
107Russell Gage◦ provisionalATLWR7466.2%63.3%57.8%68.6%
108Kelvin Harmon◦ provisionalWASWR4468.2%63.3%57.4%69.0%
109DeAndre Carter◦ provisionalHOUWR1478.6%63.3%56.9%69.5%
110Keelan Doss◦ provisionalLVWR1478.6%63.3%56.9%69.5%
111Allen Lazard◦ provisionalGBWR5267.3%63.3%57.5%68.9%
112Robert Woods◦ provisionalLAWR13964.8%63.2%58.5%67.9%
113Mike Gesicki◦ provisionalMIATE8957.3%63.2%57.6%68.8%
114Davante Adams◦ provisionalGBWR12864.8%63.2%58.4%68.0%
115T.J. Hockenson◦ provisionalDETTE5954.2%63.2%57.0%69.3%
116T.Y. Hilton◦ provisionalINDWR6866.2%63.2%57.7%68.6%
117Willie Snead◦ provisionalBALWR4667.4%63.1%57.3%68.9%
118Justin Hardy◦ provisionalATLWR2770.4%63.1%57.0%69.2%
119Byron Pringle◦ provisionalKCWR1675.0%63.1%56.7%69.3%
120Tyreek Hill◦ provisionalKCWR8965.2%63.1%57.8%68.2%
121Allen Hurns◦ provisionalMIAWR4866.7%63.0%57.2%68.7%
122Tyrell Williams◦ provisionalLVWR6465.6%63.0%57.4%68.4%
123Tre'Quan Smith◦ provisionalNOWR2669.2%62.9%56.7%69.0%
124Paul Richardson◦ provisionalWASWR4266.7%62.9%57.0%68.7%
125DJ Moore◦ provisionalCARWR13664.0%62.8%58.0%67.6%
126Kalif Raymond◦ provisionalTENWR1275.0%62.8%56.3%69.1%
127Jamison Crowder◦ provisionalNYJWR12263.9%62.8%57.8%67.6%
128Marquise Brown◦ provisionalBALWR7164.8%62.8%57.3%68.2%
129Keelan Cole◦ provisionalJAXWR3666.7%62.8%56.7%68.6%
130Allen RobinsonCHIWR15463.6%62.7%58.1%67.3%
131Dede Westbrook◦ provisionalJAXWR10364.1%62.7%57.6%67.8%
132Diontae Johnson◦ provisionalPITWR9264.1%62.7%57.5%67.8%
133Danny Amendola◦ provisionalDETWR9763.9%62.6%57.4%67.7%
134Malik Turner◦ provisionalSEAWR2268.2%62.6%56.3%68.8%
135Kendrick Bourne◦ provisionalSFWR4665.2%62.6%56.7%68.3%
136Isaiah Ford◦ provisionalMIAWR3565.7%62.6%56.5%68.5%
137Andy Isabella◦ provisionalARIWR1369.2%62.4%55.9%68.7%
138Julio JonesATLWR15862.7%62.2%57.6%66.8%
139Brandon Zylstra◦ provisionalCARWR1266.7%62.2%55.6%68.5%
140John Brown◦ provisionalBUFWR11562.6%62.2%57.1%67.1%
141Jakobi Meyers◦ provisionalNEWR4163.4%62.1%56.2%68.0%
142Mecole Hardman◦ provisionalKCWR4163.4%62.1%56.2%68.0%
143Christian Kirk◦ provisionalARIWR10962.4%62.0%57.0%67.0%
144Adam Thielen◦ provisionalMINWR4862.5%62.0%56.1%67.7%
145Corey Davis◦ provisionalTENWR6962.3%62.0%56.4%67.4%
146Duke Williams◦ provisionalBUFWR1963.2%61.9%55.6%68.1%
147Cole Beasley◦ provisionalBUFWR10862.0%61.9%56.8%66.9%
148Demaryius Thomas◦ provisionalNYJWR5862.1%61.9%56.1%67.4%
149Bennie Fowler◦ provisionalNYGWR3762.2%61.9%55.8%67.8%
150A.J. Brown◦ provisionalTENWR8461.9%61.8%56.5%67.1%
151Terry McLaurin◦ provisionalWASWR9461.7%61.8%56.5%66.9%
152Keke Coutee◦ provisionalHOUWR3661.1%61.6%55.6%67.6%
153Anthony Miller◦ provisionalCHIWR8561.2%61.6%56.2%66.8%
154Geronimo Allison◦ provisionalGBWR5660.7%61.5%55.7%67.1%
155Steven Sims◦ provisionalWASWR5660.7%61.5%55.7%67.1%
156Taylor Gabriel◦ provisionalCHIWR4860.4%61.4%55.6%67.2%
157Seth Roberts◦ provisionalBALWR3560.0%61.4%55.3%67.4%
158Miles Boykin◦ provisionalBALWR2259.1%61.4%55.1%67.6%
159Zay Jones◦ provisionalLVWR4560.0%61.4%55.4%67.1%
160DJ Chark◦ provisionalJAXWR12060.8%61.3%56.4%66.2%
161Tyler BoydCINWR14860.8%61.3%56.5%65.9%
162Laquon Treadwell◦ provisionalMINWR1656.3%61.2%54.8%67.5%
163Damion Willis◦ provisionalCINWR1656.3%61.2%54.8%67.5%
164Dontrelle Inman◦ provisionalINDWR2157.1%61.2%54.8%67.4%
165Marquise Goodwin◦ provisionalSFWR2157.1%61.2%54.8%67.4%
166Jake Kumerow◦ provisionalGBWR2157.1%61.2%54.8%67.4%
167Justin Watson◦ provisionalTBWR2657.7%61.1%54.9%67.3%
168Jaron Brown◦ provisionalSEAWR2857.1%61.0%54.8%67.1%
169Chester Rogers◦ provisionalINDWR2857.1%61.0%54.8%67.1%
170Jakeem Grant◦ provisionalMIAWR3357.6%61.0%54.9%67.0%
171Chris Hogan◦ provisionalCARWR1553.3%61.0%54.5%67.3%
172Jarvis Landry◦ provisionalCLEWR13860.1%61.0%56.1%65.7%
173Antonio Callaway◦ provisionalCLEWR1553.3%61.0%54.5%67.3%
174JuJu Smith-Schuster◦ provisionalPITWR7159.2%60.9%55.3%66.3%
175Demarcus Robinson◦ provisionalKCWR5558.2%60.8%55.0%66.4%
176Cody Latimer◦ provisionalNYGWR4257.1%60.7%54.7%66.6%
177Josh Gordon◦ provisionalSEAWR4757.5%60.7%54.8%66.5%
178Tavon Austin◦ provisionalDALWR2454.2%60.7%54.4%66.8%
179Vyncint Smith◦ provisionalNYJWR3154.8%60.5%54.4%66.6%
180Alshon Jeffery◦ provisionalPHIWR7458.1%60.5%55.0%65.9%
181Braxton Berrios◦ provisionalNYJWR1346.2%60.5%53.9%66.8%
182Brandin Cooks◦ provisionalLAWR7357.5%60.3%54.8%65.8%
183Michael Gallup◦ provisionalDALWR11358.4%60.3%55.2%65.3%
184Golden Tate◦ provisionalNYGWR8557.6%60.2%54.8%65.5%
185Damion Ratley◦ provisionalCLEWR2450.0%60.1%53.8%66.2%
186Courtland Sutton◦ provisionalDENWR12458.1%60.0%55.1%64.9%
187Sammy Watkins◦ provisionalKCWR9157.1%60.0%54.6%65.2%
188Tim Patrick◦ provisionalDENWR3151.6%60.0%53.8%66.0%
189Scott Miller◦ provisionalTBWR2650.0%60.0%53.7%66.1%
190Zach Pascal◦ provisionalINDWR7356.2%59.9%54.3%65.3%
191Trey Quinn◦ provisionalWASWR4854.2%59.9%53.9%65.6%
192Marcus Johnson◦ provisionalINDWR3351.5%59.8%53.7%65.9%
193Darius Slayton◦ provisionalNYGWR8556.5%59.8%54.4%65.1%
194Nelson Agholor◦ provisionalPHIWR7055.7%59.8%54.2%65.3%
195DK Metcalf◦ provisionalSEAWR10256.9%59.7%54.5%64.8%
196Deon Cain◦ provisionalPITWR2045.0%59.7%53.3%66.0%
197DaeSean Hamilton◦ provisionalDENWR5253.8%59.6%53.8%65.4%
198J.J. Arcega-Whiteside◦ provisionalPHIWR2245.5%59.6%53.2%65.8%
199David Moore◦ provisionalSEAWR3450.0%59.5%53.3%65.5%
200Dante Pettis◦ provisionalSFWR2445.8%59.5%53.1%65.7%
201Ted Ginn◦ provisionalNOWR5653.6%59.5%53.7%65.1%
202Alex Erickson◦ provisionalCINWR7855.1%59.4%53.9%64.8%
203James Washington◦ provisionalPITWR8055.0%59.3%53.9%64.7%
204Travis Benjamin◦ provisionalLACWR1637.5%59.3%52.8%65.7%
205Mike Evans◦ provisionalTBWR11956.3%59.3%54.2%64.2%
206Preston Williams◦ provisionalMIAWR6053.3%59.3%53.5%64.9%
207Phillip Dorsett◦ provisionalNEWR5552.7%59.2%53.4%64.9%
208Mack Hollins◦ provisionalMIAWR2343.5%59.2%52.9%65.4%
209Trent Sherfield◦ provisionalARIWR1330.8%59.2%52.6%65.6%
210DeVante Parker◦ provisionalMIAWR12856.3%59.2%54.2%64.0%
211Christian Blake◦ provisionalATLWR2544.0%59.1%52.8%65.3%
212Kenny Golladay◦ provisionalDETWR11755.6%59.0%53.9%63.9%
213Andre Patton◦ provisionalLACWR1735.3%58.9%52.5%65.3%
214Mike Williams◦ provisionalLACWR9054.4%58.9%53.6%64.2%
215Odell Beckham Jr.◦ provisionalCLEWR13355.6%58.8%53.9%63.6%
216Josh Reynolds◦ provisionalLAWR4348.8%58.8%52.8%64.6%
217KeeSean Johnson◦ provisionalARIWR4348.8%58.8%52.8%64.6%
218Robbie Chosen◦ provisionalNYJWR9753.6%58.5%53.2%63.6%
219John Ross◦ provisionalCINWR5650.0%58.4%52.6%64.1%
220Donte Moncrief◦ provisionalPITWR1526.7%58.4%51.9%64.8%
221Javon Wims◦ provisionalCHIWR3946.2%58.4%52.3%64.4%
222Breshad Perriman◦ provisionalTBWR7051.4%58.4%52.7%63.9%
223Jarius Wright◦ provisionalCARWR5848.3%57.9%52.1%63.5%
224Johnny Holton◦ provisionalPITWR1520.0%57.8%51.2%64.2%
225Auden Tate◦ provisionalCINWR8050.0%57.5%52.0%62.9%
226Marquez Valdes-Scantling◦ provisionalGBWR5646.4%57.4%51.6%63.1%
227Curtis Samuel◦ provisionalCARWR10551.4%57.4%52.2%62.5%
228Chris Conley◦ provisionalJAXWR9350.5%57.3%52.0%62.6%
229Robert Foster◦ provisionalBUFWR1816.7%56.7%50.2%63.1%

How the shrinkage works

Two estimators

Rate stats (completion %, success rate, catch rate) use a beta-binomial model: a Beta(α, β) prior fit by marginal likelihood over each position group, then a Beta posterior per player. Per-play averages (EPA, CPOE, yards) use a normal-normal model with DerSimonian–Laird between-player variance. Both pull each player toward their group by exactly how thin their sample is.

Does it help? & the fine print

The trust panel’s numbers come from a leakage-free odd/even-week holdout: fit on odd weeks, predict even-week raw. Shrinkage lowers out-of-sample error for every stat. Priors are fit per season and per position (WR and TE separately), so a TE’s baseline isn’t a skill. Regular season only, 2016–2025. Rushing and receiving efficiency are heavily scheme-driven — read the wide bands as the honesty they are.

Source: nflverse play-by-play. Counted and computed deterministically — never modeled by a language model. Built by build_nfl_leaderboards.py (byte-reproducible).