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 · 2016

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
208 TE · 50 WR
targets to trust the number
shrunkrawthe shrink90% CI
40%50%60%70%TE avgWR avg1Michael ThomasNO · 12171.3%2Cole BeasleyDAL · 9870.9%3Doug BaldwinSEA · 12670.4%4Stefon DiggsMIN · 11270.3%5Ty MontgomeryGB · 5669.7%6Adam ThielenMIN · 9269.6%7Jack DoyleIND · 7569.0%8Larry FitzgeraldARI · 15068.4%9Tyreek HillKC · 8368.3%10Zach ErtzPHI · 10668.2%11Martellus BennettNE · 7368.0%12Jordan ReedWAS · 9067.8%13Travis KelceKC · 11867.8%14Jason WittenDAL · 9567.7%15Jarvis LandryMIA · 13367.7%16Eddie RoyalCHI · 4367.6%17Dennis PittaBAL · 12167.5%18Vernon DavisWAS · 5967.5%19Zach MillerCHI · 6467.3%20Mohamed SanuATL · 8267.3%21Eric EbronDET · 8567.3%22Eli RogersPIT · 6667.1%23Randall CobbGB · 8467.1%24Danny AmendolaNE · 2966.9%25Ben KoyackJAX · 2466.9%26Cameron BrateTB · 8166.8%27Anquan BoldinDET · 9566.8%28MarQueis GrayMIA · 1766.8%29Dion SimsMIA · 3566.8%30A.J. DerbyDEN · 2066.8%31Daniel BrownCHI · 2066.8%32Darren FellsARI · 1866.5%33Jerell AdamsNYG · 2166.5%34Tyler KroftCIN · 1266.5%35Seth DeValveCLE · 1266.5%36Brent CelekPHI · 1966.2%37Neal SterlingJAX · 1666.2%38Keith MumpheryHOU · 1264.3%39Jarius WrightMIN · 1463.8%

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 · 2016 · full board

Catch rate leaderboard for the 2016 NFL season, shrunk by empirical Bayes with 90% credible intervals, ranked by the shrunk estimate.
#PlayerTeamPostargetsRawShrunk90% interval
1Michael ThomasNOWR12176.0%71.3%65.5%76.8%
2Cole BeasleyDALWR9876.5%70.9%64.6%76.8%
3Doug BaldwinSEAWR12674.6%70.4%64.6%75.9%
4Stefon DiggsMINWR11275.0%70.3%64.3%76.0%
5Ty MontgomeryGBWR5678.6%69.7%62.2%76.8%
6Adam ThielenMINWR9275.0%69.6%63.1%75.8%
7Jack Doyle◦ provisionalINDTE7578.7%69.0%64.4%73.4%
8Larry FitzgeraldARIWR15071.3%68.4%62.9%73.7%
9Tyreek HillKCWR8373.5%68.3%61.6%74.8%
10Zach Ertz◦ provisionalPHITE10673.6%68.2%63.8%72.5%
11Martellus Bennett◦ provisionalNETE7375.3%68.0%63.4%72.5%
12Jordan Reed◦ provisionalWASTE9073.3%67.8%63.3%72.2%
13Travis Kelce◦ provisionalKCTE11872.0%67.8%63.5%72.0%
14Jason Witten◦ provisionalDALTE9572.6%67.7%63.2%72.1%
15Jarvis LandryMIAWR13370.7%67.7%61.9%73.3%
16Eddie Royal◦ provisionalCHIWR4376.7%67.6%59.4%75.3%
17Dennis Pitta◦ provisionalBALTE12171.1%67.5%63.2%71.7%
18Vernon Davis◦ provisionalWASTE5974.6%67.5%62.7%72.1%
19Zach Miller◦ provisionalCHITE6473.4%67.3%62.6%72.0%
20Mohamed SanuATLWR8272.0%67.3%60.5%73.9%
21Eric Ebron◦ provisionalDETTE8571.8%67.3%62.7%71.7%
22Eli RogersPITWR6672.7%67.1%59.8%74.1%
23Randall CobbGBWR8471.4%67.1%60.3%73.6%
24Danny Amendola◦ provisionalNEWR2979.3%66.9%58.0%75.3%
25Ben Koyack◦ provisionalJAXTE2479.2%66.9%61.7%71.9%
26Cameron Brate◦ provisionalTBTE8170.4%66.8%62.2%71.3%
27Anquan BoldinDETWR9570.5%66.8%60.3%73.1%
28MarQueis Gray◦ provisionalMIATE1782.3%66.8%61.5%71.8%
29Dion Sims◦ provisionalMIATE3574.3%66.8%61.7%71.6%
30A.J. Derby◦ provisionalDENTE2080.0%66.8%61.6%71.8%
31Daniel Brown◦ provisionalCHITE2080.0%66.8%61.6%71.8%
32Terrance WilliamsDALWR6172.1%66.5%59.0%73.7%
33Darren Fells◦ provisionalARITE1877.8%66.5%61.2%71.5%
34Jerell Adams◦ provisionalNYGTE2176.2%66.5%61.3%71.5%
35Tyler Kroft◦ provisionalCINTE1283.3%66.5%61.1%71.6%
36Seth DeValve◦ provisionalCLETE1283.3%66.5%61.1%71.6%
37Jimmy Graham◦ provisionalSEATE9568.4%66.4%61.9%70.8%
38Pierre GarconWASWR11469.3%66.4%60.2%72.3%
39Will Tye◦ provisionalNYGTE7068.6%66.3%61.5%70.9%
40Jacob Tamme◦ provisionalATLTE3171.0%66.2%61.1%71.1%
41Mychal Rivera◦ provisionalLVTE2572.0%66.2%61.0%71.2%
42Brent Celek◦ provisionalPHITE1973.7%66.2%60.9%71.2%
43Neal Sterling◦ provisionalJAXTE1675.0%66.2%60.9%71.3%
44Willie SneadNOWR10469.2%66.1%59.8%72.3%
45Luke Willson◦ provisionalSEATE2171.4%66.0%60.8%71.1%
46Ryan Griffin◦ provisionalHOUTE7467.6%66.0%61.3%70.6%
47Austin Hooper◦ provisionalATLTE2867.9%65.8%60.6%70.8%
48Larry Donnell◦ provisionalNYGTE2268.2%65.7%60.5%70.8%
49Josh Hill◦ provisionalNOTE2268.2%65.7%60.5%70.8%
50Erik Swoope◦ provisionalINDTE2268.2%65.7%60.5%70.8%
51Levine Toilolo◦ provisionalATLTE1968.4%65.7%60.5%70.8%
52Hunter Henry◦ provisionalLACTE5466.7%65.7%60.8%70.5%
53Stephen Anderson◦ provisionalHOUTE1668.8%65.7%60.4%70.8%
54Gary Barnidge◦ provisionalCLETE8366.3%65.7%61.1%70.2%
55Antonio BrownPITWR15767.5%65.6%60.1%71.0%
56Marcedes Lewis◦ provisionalJAXTE3066.7%65.6%60.5%70.6%
57Dwayne Allen◦ provisionalINDTE5366.0%65.6%60.7%70.3%
58John Phillips◦ provisionalNOTE1566.7%65.6%60.3%70.7%
59Rob Gronkowski◦ provisionalNETE3865.8%65.5%60.5%70.4%
60C.J. Uzomah◦ provisionalCINTE3865.8%65.5%60.5%70.4%
61Charles Clay◦ provisionalBUFTE8765.5%65.5%60.9%70.0%
62Austin Seferian-Jenkins◦ provisionalNYJTE2065.0%65.4%60.2%70.5%
63Rhett Ellison◦ provisionalMINTE1464.3%65.4%60.1%70.6%
64Cameron MeredithCHIWR9768.0%65.2%58.7%71.5%
65Richard Rodgers◦ provisionalGBTE4763.8%65.2%60.2%70.0%
66Jesse James◦ provisionalPITTE6163.9%65.1%60.3%69.8%
67Nick O'Leary◦ provisionalBUFTE1560.0%65.1%59.8%70.3%
68David Johnson◦ provisionalPITTE1258.3%65.1%59.7%70.3%
69Clive Walford◦ provisionalLVTE5263.5%65.1%60.2%69.9%
70Jamison CrowderWASWR9967.7%65.0%58.5%71.3%
71Golden TateDETWR13666.9%65.0%59.2%70.6%
72Darren Waller◦ provisionalBALTE1758.8%65.0%59.7%70.1%
73Anthony Fasano◦ provisionalTENTE1457.1%65.0%59.6%70.1%
74Crockett Gillmore◦ provisionalBALTE1457.1%65.0%59.6%70.1%
75Delanie Walker◦ provisionalTENTE10263.7%64.9%60.4%69.3%
76Taylor GabrielATLWR5070.0%64.9%56.9%72.5%
77Steve SmithBALWR10467.3%64.8%58.4%71.0%
78Tyler Eifert◦ provisionalCINTE4761.7%64.8%59.8%69.6%
79Trey Burton◦ provisionalPHITE6061.7%64.6%59.8%69.4%
80Brandin CooksNOWR11766.7%64.6%58.4%70.6%
81Virgil Green◦ provisionalDENTE3759.5%64.6%59.5%69.5%
82Jeff Heuerman◦ provisionalDENTE1752.9%64.5%59.2%69.7%
83Ed Dickson◦ provisionalCARTE1952.6%64.4%59.1%69.5%
84Jermaine Gresham◦ provisionalARITE6160.7%64.4%59.5%69.1%
85Keith Mumphery◦ provisionalHOUWR1283.3%64.3%54.1%74.0%
86Kyle Rudolph◦ provisionalMINTE13362.4%64.3%60.0%68.5%
87Xavier Grimble◦ provisionalPITTE2152.4%64.3%59.0%69.4%
88Brandon Myers◦ provisionalTBTE1546.7%64.2%58.9%69.4%
89Coby Fleener◦ provisionalNOTE8261.0%64.2%59.5%68.8%
90Robert WoodsBUFWR7667.1%64.2%57.0%71.0%
91Jared Cook◦ provisionalGBTE5158.8%64.2%59.2%69.0%
92Julius Thomas◦ provisionalJAXTE5158.8%64.2%59.2%69.0%
93Bryan Walters◦ provisionalJAXWR3470.6%64.1%55.4%72.5%
94C.J. Fiedorowicz◦ provisionalHOUTE8960.7%64.0%59.4%68.6%
95Garrett Celek◦ provisionalSFTE5058.0%64.0%59.1%68.9%
96Tyler BoydCINWR8166.7%64.0%57.0%70.8%
97Jordan Matthews◦ provisionalPHITE11961.3%64.0%59.6%68.3%
98A.J. GreenCINWR10066.0%63.9%57.4%70.2%
99Jarius Wright◦ provisionalMINWR1478.6%63.8%53.8%73.4%
100Demetrius Harris◦ provisionalKCTE3253.1%63.8%58.7%68.9%
101Greg Olsen◦ provisionalCARTE13260.6%63.6%59.3%67.8%
102Brandon Coleman◦ provisionalNOWR3868.4%63.5%54.9%71.7%
103Ladarius Green◦ provisionalPITTE3551.4%63.5%58.3%68.5%
104Adam HumphriesTBWR8465.5%63.3%56.4%70.0%
105Vance McDonald◦ provisionalSFTE4553.3%63.3%58.3%68.2%
106Kendall Wright◦ provisionalTENWR4367.4%63.3%54.9%71.3%
107Malcolm Mitchell◦ provisionalNEWR4866.7%63.1%55.0%71.0%
108Lance Kendricks◦ provisionalLATE8757.5%63.1%58.5%67.7%
109Chris HoganNEWR5865.5%62.8%55.1%70.3%
110Josh Huff◦ provisionalTBWR2369.6%62.8%53.4%71.9%
111Jordy NelsonGBWR15263.8%62.8%57.1%68.3%
112Justin Hardy◦ provisionalATLWR3167.7%62.8%53.8%71.4%
113Julio JonesATLWR13063.8%62.7%56.7%68.5%
114DeVante ParkerMIAWR8764.4%62.7%55.8%69.3%
115Pharoh Cooper◦ provisionalLAWR2070.0%62.7%53.0%71.9%
116Antonio Gates◦ provisionalLACTE9456.4%62.6%58.0%67.2%
117Harry Douglas◦ provisionalTENWR2268.2%62.3%52.8%71.5%
118Rod Streater◦ provisionalSFWR2766.7%62.2%52.9%71.0%
119James Wright◦ provisionalCINWR1968.4%62.1%52.4%71.5%
120Tyler Higbee◦ provisionalLATE2937.9%62.1%56.9%67.2%
121Chris ConleyKCWR6963.8%62.1%54.7%69.3%
122Travis BenjaminLACWR7562.7%61.5%54.3%68.5%
123Demaryius ThomasDENWR14562.1%61.5%55.7%67.1%
124Sterling ShepardNYGWR10561.9%61.2%54.7%67.5%
125Jordan Taylor◦ provisionalDENWR2564.0%61.2%51.8%70.2%
126Tyler LockettSEAWR6662.1%61.1%53.6%68.4%
127Maurice Harris◦ provisionalWASWR1266.7%61.1%50.8%71.0%
128Amari CooperLVWR13561.5%61.0%55.1%66.8%
129Mike WallaceBALWR11761.5%61.0%54.7%67.1%
130Julian EdelmanNEWR16061.3%60.9%55.3%66.4%
131Cody Core◦ provisionalCINWR2763.0%60.9%51.6%69.8%
132Aldrick Robinson◦ provisionalATLWR3262.5%60.8%51.8%69.5%
133Kenny BrittLAWR11161.3%60.8%54.4%67.0%
134Paul Turner◦ provisionalPHIWR1464.3%60.7%50.6%70.5%
135Davante AdamsGBWR12361.0%60.6%54.4%66.6%
136Andrew HawkinsCLEWR5461.1%60.5%52.5%68.2%
137Chris Harper◦ provisionalSFWR2161.9%60.4%50.7%69.7%
138Michael CrabtreeLVWR14760.5%60.3%54.6%66.0%
139Deonte Thompson◦ provisionalCHIWR3661.1%60.3%51.5%68.8%
140Albert WilsonKCWR5160.8%60.3%52.2%68.1%
141Jalin Marshall◦ provisionalNYJWR2360.9%60.1%50.6%69.3%
142Cobi Hamilton◦ provisionalPITWR2860.7%60.1%50.9%69.0%
143Marqise LeeJAXWR10560.0%59.9%53.4%66.3%
144Jordan Norwood◦ provisionalDENWR3560.0%59.8%51.0%68.4%
145Brandon LaFellCINWR10759.8%59.8%53.3%66.1%
146Dontrelle InmanLACWR9759.8%59.8%53.1%66.3%
147Odell Beckham Jr.NYGWR16959.8%59.8%54.3%65.1%
148Rishard MatthewsTENWR10959.6%59.7%53.2%66.0%
149Jaelen Strong◦ provisionalHOUWR2458.3%59.3%49.8%68.5%
150Jeff Janis◦ provisionalGBWR1957.9%59.2%49.4%68.7%
151Quinton PattonSFWR6358.7%59.2%51.5%66.7%
152Brittan Golden◦ provisionalARIWR1457.1%59.2%49.0%69.0%
153Paul Richardson◦ provisionalSEAWR3658.3%59.2%50.3%67.7%
154Marquess Wilson◦ provisionalCHIWR1656.3%58.9%48.8%68.6%
155Kamar AikenBALWR5058.0%58.9%50.7%66.8%
156Russell Shepard◦ provisionalTBWR4057.5%58.7%50.1%67.1%
157Jeremy MaclinKCWR7657.9%58.6%51.3%65.7%
158Tyrell WilliamsLACWR11958.0%58.5%52.2%64.7%
159Andre Roberts◦ provisionalDETWR2556.0%58.5%49.0%67.7%
160Andre Holmes◦ provisionalLVWR2556.0%58.5%49.0%67.7%
161Walt Powell◦ provisionalBUFWR2556.0%58.5%49.0%67.7%
162T.Y. HiltonINDWR15758.0%58.4%52.7%64.0%
163Cody Latimer◦ provisionalDENWR1553.3%58.3%48.1%68.1%
164Emmanuel SandersDENWR13757.7%58.2%52.3%64.1%
165Chester Rogers◦ provisionalINDWR3455.9%58.2%49.3%66.9%
166Geronimo Allison◦ provisionalGBWR2254.5%58.1%48.5%67.5%
167Rashard Higgins◦ provisionalCLEWR1250.0%57.9%47.5%68.0%
168Ted GinnCARWR9556.8%57.8%51.0%64.5%
169Phillip DorsettINDWR5955.9%57.7%49.8%65.3%
170Braxton Miller◦ provisionalHOUWR2853.6%57.5%48.3%66.6%
171Charone Peake◦ provisionalNYJWR3554.3%57.5%48.6%66.2%
172Charles D. Johnson◦ provisionalMINWR3754.0%57.3%48.5%65.9%
173DeSean JacksonWASWR10056.0%57.2%50.6%63.8%
174DeMarcus Ayers◦ provisionalPITWR1346.2%56.9%46.6%67.0%
175Jeremy KerleySFWR11555.6%56.9%50.5%63.2%
176Alshon JefferyCHIWR9455.3%56.9%50.0%63.6%
177Kevin White◦ provisionalCHIWR3652.8%56.8%48.0%65.5%
178Sammy WatkinsBUFWR5253.8%56.7%48.6%64.7%
179Quincy EnunwaNYJWR10555.2%56.7%50.1%63.2%
180Donte MoncriefINDWR5653.6%56.5%48.5%64.3%
181Victor CruzNYGWR7254.2%56.5%49.0%63.7%
182Ryan Grant◦ provisionalWASWR1947.4%56.3%46.5%66.0%
183Tavon AustinLAWR10654.7%56.3%49.8%62.8%
184Robbie ChosenNYJWR7853.8%56.1%48.9%63.3%
185John BrownARIWR7353.4%56.0%48.6%63.3%
186Jaron Brown◦ provisionalARIWR2347.8%56.0%46.4%65.4%
187Mike EvansTBWR17554.9%55.9%50.5%61.3%
188Brice Butler◦ provisionalDALWR3250.0%55.9%46.9%64.8%
189Chris Moore◦ provisionalBALWR1643.8%55.9%45.8%65.7%
190Aaron Burbridge◦ provisionalSFWR1643.8%55.9%45.8%65.7%
191Brian QuickLAWR7753.3%55.8%48.5%63.0%
192Terrelle PryorCLEWR14254.2%55.7%49.7%61.5%
193Ricardo Louis◦ provisionalCLEWR3650.0%55.7%46.8%64.3%
194Josh Bellamy◦ provisionalCHIWR3850.0%55.5%46.8%64.1%
195Marvin JonesDETWR10353.4%55.5%48.8%62.0%
196Kelvin BenjaminCARWR11853.4%55.3%48.9%61.5%
197Bennie Fowler◦ provisionalDENWR2445.8%55.2%45.7%64.6%
198Nelson AgholorPHIWR7051.4%54.9%47.4%62.3%
199Kenny StillsMIAWR8151.8%54.9%47.7%61.9%
200Eric Decker◦ provisionalNYJWR2142.9%54.7%45.0%64.3%
201Corey BrownCARWR5450.0%54.7%46.6%62.6%
202Breshad PerrimanBALWR6650.0%54.2%46.6%61.7%
203Will FullerHOUWR9251.1%54.1%47.2%61.0%
204Dez BryantDALWR9851.0%54.0%47.2%60.7%
205Justin Hunter◦ provisionalBUFWR2441.7%53.9%44.3%63.3%
206DeAndre HopkinsHOUWR15151.7%53.7%47.9%59.4%
207T.J. Jones◦ provisionalDETWR1533.3%53.6%43.5%63.7%
208Roger Lewis◦ provisionalNYGWR1936.8%53.4%43.5%63.2%
209Vincent Jackson◦ provisionalTBWR3444.1%53.4%44.5%62.3%
210Tajae SharpeTENWR8349.4%53.3%46.2%60.4%
211Andre Johnson◦ provisionalTENWR2339.1%53.2%43.6%62.7%
212Dorial Green-BeckhamPHIWR7448.6%53.1%45.7%60.4%
213Cecil Shorts◦ provisionalTBWR2740.7%53.1%43.7%62.3%
214Bryce Treggs◦ provisionalPHIWR1225.0%53.0%42.6%63.3%
215Michael FloydNEWR7748.0%52.6%45.4%59.9%
216Seth RobertsLVWR7948.1%52.6%45.4%59.8%
217Darrius Heyward-Bey◦ provisionalPITWR1931.6%52.0%42.1%61.8%
218Allen HurnsJAXWR7646.1%51.5%44.2%58.8%
219Sammie Coates◦ provisionalPITWR4942.9%51.4%43.1%59.6%
220Corey ColemanCLEWR7345.2%51.1%43.7%58.5%
221J.J. NelsonARIWR7545.3%51.1%43.8%58.4%
222Jermaine KearseSEAWR8946.1%51.0%44.0%57.9%
223Allen RobinsonJAXWR15248.0%50.9%45.1%56.7%
224Torrey Smith◦ provisionalSFWR4940.8%50.4%42.1%58.6%
225Brandon MarshallNYJWR12846.1%49.9%43.8%56.1%
226Marquise GoodwinBUFWR6842.6%49.9%42.3%57.4%
227Devin FunchessCARWR5939.0%48.5%40.7%56.4%

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).