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 · 2018

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
284 TE · 48 WR
targets to trust the number
shrunkrawthe shrink90% CI
40%50%60%70%80%TE avgWR avg1Michael ThomasNO · 14879.0%2Tyler LockettSEA · 7173.0%3Ryan SwitzerPIT · 4471.6%4DeAndre CarterHOU · 2571.0%5Adam ThielenMIN · 15470.7%6Cole BeasleyDAL · 8770.3%7Austin HooperATL · 9070.1%8Danny AmendolaMIA · 7970.0%9Zach ErtzPHI · 15669.8%10Kyle RudolphMIN · 8469.4%11Anthony FirkserTEN · 2069.2%12Emmanuel SandersDEN · 9869.1%13Levine ToiloloDET · 2468.9%14Maxx WilliamsBAL · 1768.9%15Geoff SwaimDAL · 3268.8%16Adam HumphriesTB · 10668.7%17Phillip DorsettNE · 4268.7%18Taylor GabrielCHI · 9368.7%19DeAndre HopkinsHOU · 16368.7%20Benjamin WatsonNO · 4668.6%21Keenan AllenLAC · 13768.6%22Jack DoyleIND · 3368.6%23Ed DicksonSEA · 1368.5%24Dallas GoedertPHI · 4468.4%25Darren FellsCLE · 1268.4%26Jesse JamesPIT · 4068.3%27Ian ThomasCAR · 4968.3%28Blake JarwinDAL · 3668.2%29Rashard HigginsCLE · 5368.2%30Tyler EifertCIN · 1968.1%31Lance KendricksGB · 2568.1%32Niles PaulJAX · 1367.8%33Jermaine GreshamARI · 1267.7%34Bruce EllingtonDET · 4267.6%35Albert WilsonMIA · 3567.3%36Chris MooreBAL · 2566.9%37Eli RogersPIT · 1566.4%38Brandon LaFellLV · 1665.4%

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 · 2018 · full board

Catch rate leaderboard for the 2018 NFL season, shrunk by empirical Bayes with 90% credible intervals, ranked by the shrunk estimate.
#PlayerTeamPostargetsRawShrunk90% interval
1Michael ThomasNOWR14884.5%79.0%74.1%83.6%
2Tyler LockettSEAWR7180.3%73.0%66.1%79.5%
3Ryan Switzer◦ provisionalPITWR4481.8%71.6%63.6%79.0%
4DeAndre Carter◦ provisionalHOUWR2588.0%71.0%62.0%79.4%
5Adam ThielenMINWR15473.4%70.7%65.3%75.9%
6Cole BeasleyDALWR8774.7%70.3%63.6%76.5%
7Austin Hooper◦ provisionalATLTE9078.9%70.1%66.2%74.0%
8Danny AmendolaMIAWR7974.7%70.0%63.1%76.5%
9Zach Ertz◦ provisionalPHITE15674.4%69.8%66.2%73.4%
10Kyle Rudolph◦ provisionalMINTE8476.2%69.4%65.4%73.3%
11Anthony Firkser◦ provisionalTENTE2095.0%69.2%64.8%73.5%
12Emmanuel SandersDENWR9872.5%69.1%62.7%75.2%
13Levine Toilolo◦ provisionalDETTE2487.5%68.9%64.5%73.2%
14Maxx Williams◦ provisionalBALTE1794.1%68.9%64.4%73.2%
15Geoff Swaim◦ provisionalDALTE3281.3%68.8%64.4%73.0%
16Adam HumphriesTBWR10671.7%68.7%62.5%74.7%
17Phillip Dorsett◦ provisionalNEWR4276.2%68.7%60.5%76.5%
18Taylor GabrielCHIWR9372.0%68.7%62.1%75.0%
19DeAndre HopkinsHOUWR16370.5%68.7%63.3%73.8%
20Benjamin Watson◦ provisionalNOTE4676.1%68.6%64.3%72.7%
21Keenan AllenLACWR13770.8%68.6%62.9%74.1%
22Jack Doyle◦ provisionalINDTE3378.8%68.6%64.2%72.8%
23Ed Dickson◦ provisionalSEATE1392.3%68.5%64.0%72.8%
24Dallas Goedert◦ provisionalPHITE4475.0%68.4%64.1%72.5%
25Darren Fells◦ provisionalCLETE1291.7%68.4%63.8%72.7%
26Jesse James◦ provisionalPITTE4075.0%68.3%64.0%72.5%
27Ian Thomas◦ provisionalCARTE4973.5%68.3%64.0%72.4%
28Blake Jarwin◦ provisionalDALTE3675.0%68.2%63.9%72.4%
29Rashard HigginsCLEWR5373.6%68.2%60.4%75.6%
30Tyler Eifert◦ provisionalCINTE1979.0%68.1%63.6%72.4%
31Lance Kendricks◦ provisionalGBTE2576.0%68.1%63.6%72.4%
32Trey Burton◦ provisionalCHITE7770.1%68.0%63.9%71.9%
33Chester RogersINDWR7471.6%67.9%60.8%74.7%
34O.J. Howard◦ provisionalTBTE4870.8%67.9%63.6%72.0%
35Tyler BoydCINWR10870.4%67.9%61.6%73.9%
36Rhett Ellison◦ provisionalNYGTE3571.4%67.8%63.5%72.0%
37Sammy WatkinsKCWR5572.7%67.8%60.1%75.2%
38Cooper KuppLAWR5572.7%67.8%60.1%75.2%
39Greg Olsen◦ provisionalCARTE3871.0%67.8%63.5%72.0%
40Niles Paul◦ provisionalJAXTE1376.9%67.8%63.3%72.2%
41Vance McDonald◦ provisionalPITTE7269.4%67.8%63.7%71.8%
42Jordy NelsonLVWR8970.8%67.8%61.1%74.2%
43Alshon JefferyPHIWR9270.7%67.8%61.1%74.1%
44Chris Herndon◦ provisionalNYJTE5669.6%67.8%63.5%71.9%
45Jordan Matthews◦ provisionalPHITE2871.4%67.7%63.3%72.0%
46Tyler Higbee◦ provisionalLATE3470.6%67.7%63.3%72.0%
47Evan Engram◦ provisionalNYGTE6569.2%67.7%63.5%71.8%
48Jermaine Gresham◦ provisionalARITE1275.0%67.7%63.1%72.1%
49Travis Kelce◦ provisionalKCTE15168.2%67.7%63.9%71.3%
50Luke Stocker◦ provisionalTENTE2171.4%67.7%63.2%72.0%
51Amari CooperDALWR10770.1%67.7%61.4%73.7%
52Virgil Green◦ provisionalLACTE2770.4%67.6%63.2%71.9%
53Bruce Ellington◦ provisionalDETWR4273.8%67.6%59.3%75.5%
54Logan Thomas◦ provisionalBUFTE1770.6%67.6%63.1%71.9%
55Dalton Schultz◦ provisionalDALTE1770.6%67.6%63.1%71.9%
56Mike Gesicki◦ provisionalMIATE3268.8%67.5%63.1%71.8%
57Mark Andrews◦ provisionalBALTE5068.0%67.5%63.2%71.6%
58Luke Willson◦ provisionalDETTE1968.4%67.4%62.9%71.8%
59Jordan Akins◦ provisionalHOUTE2568.0%67.4%63.0%71.7%
60Vernon Davis◦ provisionalWASTE3767.6%67.4%63.0%71.6%
61Nick Vannett◦ provisionalSEATE4367.4%67.4%63.1%71.6%
62Jared Cook◦ provisionalLVTE10167.3%67.4%63.4%71.2%
63C.J. Uzomah◦ provisionalCINTE6467.2%67.3%63.1%71.4%
64Josh Hill◦ provisionalNOTE2466.7%67.3%62.9%71.6%
65Jonnu Smith◦ provisionalTENTE3066.7%67.3%62.9%71.6%
66Albert Wilson◦ provisionalMIAWR3574.3%67.3%58.6%75.5%
67Scott Simonson◦ provisionalNYGTE1464.3%67.2%62.7%71.6%
68Jake Butt◦ provisionalDENTE1361.5%67.1%62.6%71.5%
69Dan Arnold◦ provisionalNOTE1963.2%67.1%62.6%71.5%
70Matt LaCosse◦ provisionalDENTE3764.9%67.1%62.7%71.3%
71Calvin RidleyATLWR9269.6%67.0%60.4%73.4%
72Derek Carrier◦ provisionalLVTE1258.3%67.0%62.5%71.4%
73Jeff Heuerman◦ provisionalDENTE4864.6%67.0%62.7%71.2%
74Gerald Everett◦ provisionalLATE5164.7%67.0%62.7%71.1%
75Rob Gronkowski◦ provisionalNETE7265.3%67.0%62.8%71.0%
76Chris Moore◦ provisionalBALWR2576.0%66.9%57.6%75.7%
77Eric Tomlinson◦ provisionalNYJTE1457.1%66.9%62.4%71.3%
78Will Dissly◦ provisionalSEATE1457.1%66.9%62.4%71.3%
79James O'Shaughnessy◦ provisionalJAXTE3863.2%66.9%62.5%71.1%
80Jason Croom◦ provisionalBUFTE3562.9%66.9%62.5%71.2%
81Jarius WrightCARWR6170.5%66.8%59.3%74.1%
82Seth RobertsLVWR6470.3%66.8%59.4%74.0%
83Austin Seferian-Jenkins◦ provisionalJAXTE1957.9%66.8%62.3%71.2%
84Mo Alie-Cox◦ provisionalINDTE1353.8%66.8%62.2%71.2%
85Nick Boyle◦ provisionalBALTE3762.2%66.8%62.4%71.0%
86Jordan Reed◦ provisionalWASTE8464.3%66.7%62.6%70.7%
87Stefon DiggsMINWR15068.0%66.6%61.0%72.0%
88Brandin CooksLAWR11768.4%66.6%60.4%72.5%
89Julian EdelmanNEWR10868.5%66.6%60.3%72.7%
90Mohamed SanuATLWR9668.8%66.6%60.0%72.9%
91Hayden Hurst◦ provisionalBALTE2356.5%66.6%62.1%70.9%
92Will Fuller◦ provisionalHOUWR4571.1%66.5%58.3%74.3%
93Dontrelle Inman◦ provisionalINDWR3971.8%66.5%58.0%74.6%
94David Njoku◦ provisionalCLETE8863.6%66.5%62.4%70.5%
95Cameron Brate◦ provisionalTBTE4961.2%66.5%62.2%70.7%
96Jordan Leggett◦ provisionalNYJTE2556.0%66.5%62.0%70.8%
97Eli Rogers◦ provisionalPITWR1580.0%66.4%56.4%75.9%
98Charles Clay◦ provisionalBUFTE3658.3%66.4%62.0%70.6%
99George Kittle◦ provisionalSFTE13863.8%66.2%62.4%69.9%
100Antonio Gates◦ provisionalLACTE4858.3%66.1%61.7%70.3%
101Jimmy Graham◦ provisionalGBTE8961.8%66.0%62.0%70.0%
102Doug BaldwinSEAWR7368.5%66.0%58.8%72.9%
103Michael Roberts◦ provisionalDETTE2045.0%65.9%61.4%70.3%
104Ryan Griffin◦ provisionalHOUTE4355.8%65.8%61.5%70.1%
105Demetrius Harris◦ provisionalKCTE2548.0%65.8%61.3%70.2%
106Julio JonesATLWR17066.5%65.5%60.2%70.7%
107JuJu Smith-SchusterPITWR16766.5%65.5%60.1%70.8%
108Jaron Brown◦ provisionalSEAWR1973.7%65.5%55.7%74.7%
109Brandon LaFell◦ provisionalLVWR1675.0%65.4%55.4%74.8%
110Eric Ebron◦ provisionalINDTE11060.0%65.3%61.3%69.2%
111DJ MooreCARWR8267.1%65.3%58.3%72.0%
112T.J. Jones◦ provisionalDETWR2770.4%65.1%55.9%73.9%
113Martavis Bryant◦ provisionalLVWR2770.4%65.1%55.9%73.9%
114Robert WoodsLAWR13066.1%65.1%59.1%70.9%
115Keke Coutee◦ provisionalHOUWR4168.3%65.0%56.5%73.1%
116Ryan GrantINDWR5267.3%64.8%56.9%72.5%
117Darius Jennings◦ provisionalTENWR1573.3%64.8%54.7%74.4%
118Alex Erickson◦ provisionalCINWR2969.0%64.7%55.6%73.4%
119Nelson AgholorPHIWR9766.0%64.7%58.1%71.1%
120Davante AdamsGBWR17065.3%64.6%59.2%69.8%
121Demaryius ThomasHOUWR9065.6%64.4%57.6%71.0%
122Trent Sherfield◦ provisionalARIWR2867.9%64.3%55.1%73.1%
123Willie SneadBALWR9565.3%64.2%57.5%70.7%
124Laquon TreadwellMINWR5366.0%64.2%56.2%71.9%
125Golden TatePHIWR11464.9%64.1%57.8%70.2%
126Demarcus Robinson◦ provisionalKCWR3366.7%64.0%55.1%72.5%
127Geronimo Allison◦ provisionalGBWR3066.7%63.9%54.8%72.6%
128Ricky Seals-Jones◦ provisionalARITE6949.3%63.8%59.6%68.0%
129Cody Latimer◦ provisionalNYGWR1668.8%63.8%53.8%73.4%
130Taywan TaylorTENWR5764.9%63.7%55.8%71.2%
131DaeSean Hamilton◦ provisionalDENWR4665.2%63.7%55.4%71.6%
132Dede WestbrookJAXWR10364.1%63.5%56.9%69.8%
133Deontay Burnett◦ provisionalNYJWR1566.7%63.2%53.1%72.9%
134Tyreek HillKCWR13763.5%63.2%57.3%68.9%
135T.Y. HiltonINDWR12063.3%63.0%56.8%69.0%
136Chris HoganNEWR5563.6%63.0%55.0%70.6%
137Tre'Quan Smith◦ provisionalNOWR4463.6%62.9%54.5%71.0%
138Brandon Powell◦ provisionalDETWR1764.7%62.8%52.8%72.4%
139Breshad Perriman◦ provisionalCLEWR2564.0%62.8%53.3%71.9%
140Mike WilliamsLACWR6863.2%62.8%55.3%70.0%
141Trent Taylor◦ provisionalSFWR4163.4%62.7%54.2%71.0%
142Tyrell WilliamsLACWR6563.1%62.7%55.1%70.0%
143Austin Carr◦ provisionalNOWR1464.3%62.7%52.4%72.5%
144Richie James◦ provisionalSFWR1464.3%62.7%52.4%72.5%
145Justin Hardy◦ provisionalATLWR2263.6%62.6%53.0%71.9%
146Kendrick BourneSFWR6762.7%62.5%54.9%69.8%
147Ty Montgomery◦ provisionalBALWR4062.5%62.3%53.7%70.6%
148Christian KirkARIWR6962.3%62.3%54.8%69.5%
149Randall CobbGBWR6162.3%62.2%54.5%69.7%
150Damion Ratley◦ provisionalCLEWR2161.9%62.1%52.3%71.5%
151Keith Kirkwood◦ provisionalNOWR2161.9%62.1%52.3%71.5%
152Tavon Austin◦ provisionalDALWR1361.5%62.0%51.6%72.0%
153Jakeem Grant◦ provisionalMIAWR3461.8%62.0%53.1%70.6%
154Antonio BrownPITWR16861.9%62.0%56.5%67.3%
155Mike EvansTBWR13961.9%62.0%56.0%67.7%
156Chris ConleyKCWR5261.5%61.8%53.8%69.7%
157Robert Foster◦ provisionalBUFWR4461.4%61.8%53.3%69.9%
158Odell Beckham Jr.NYGWR12561.6%61.8%55.6%67.8%
159Anthony MillerCHIWR5461.1%61.6%53.6%69.4%
160Sterling ShepardNYGWR10861.1%61.4%55.0%67.8%
161Larry FitzgeraldARIWR11361.1%61.4%55.0%67.6%
162Isaiah McKenzie◦ provisionalBUFWR3060.0%61.3%52.1%70.2%
163Chris Godwin Jr.TBWR9760.8%61.3%54.5%67.8%
164Bennie Fowler◦ provisionalNYGWR2759.3%61.1%51.7%70.2%
165Dante Pettis◦ provisionalSFWR4560.0%61.1%52.7%69.3%
166Curtis SamuelCARWR6560.0%60.9%53.3%68.3%
167Maurice Harris◦ provisionalWASWR4759.6%60.9%52.5%69.0%
168Jamison CrowderWASWR4959.2%60.7%52.4%68.7%
169Equanimeous St. Brown◦ provisionalGBWR3658.3%60.5%51.6%69.1%
170Zach Pascal◦ provisionalINDWR4658.7%60.5%52.1%68.6%
171Andre Roberts◦ provisionalNYJWR1855.6%60.4%50.3%70.0%
172A.J. GreenCINWR7859.0%60.2%52.9%67.3%
173Deonte Thompson◦ provisionalBUFWR3056.7%60.1%50.8%69.0%
174Allen Hurns◦ provisionalDALWR3557.1%60.1%51.1%68.7%
175Paul Richardson◦ provisionalWASWR3557.1%60.1%51.1%68.7%
176Josh GordonNEWR7157.8%59.5%52.1%66.8%
177Andre Holmes◦ provisionalDENWR2454.2%59.5%49.9%68.8%
178Russell Shepard◦ provisionalNYGWR1952.6%59.5%49.5%69.1%
179Tim Patrick◦ provisionalDENWR4156.1%59.4%50.7%67.8%
180Allen RobinsonCHIWR9557.9%59.3%52.5%66.0%
181Ted Ginn◦ provisionalNOWR3154.8%59.3%50.1%68.2%
182Corey DavisTENWR11258.0%59.3%52.8%65.6%
183Josh Bellamy◦ provisionalCHIWR2653.8%59.2%49.7%68.5%
184Kenny StillsMIAWR6556.9%59.2%51.5%66.6%
185Marvin JonesDETWR6256.5%58.9%51.2%66.5%
186Tajae Sharpe◦ provisionalTENWR4755.3%58.8%50.4%67.0%
187Kenny GolladayDETWR12257.4%58.7%52.5%64.9%
188Josh DoctsonWASWR7856.4%58.6%51.3%65.7%
189Marvin Hall◦ provisionalATLWR2050.0%58.6%48.7%68.2%
190Torrey Smith◦ provisionalCARWR3253.1%58.6%49.4%67.5%
191Josh ReynoldsLAWR5354.7%58.3%50.1%66.2%
192Devin FunchessCARWR7955.7%58.1%50.9%65.3%
193Travis Benjamin◦ provisionalLACWR2450.0%58.1%48.5%67.5%
194DeSean JacksonTBWR7455.4%58.1%50.7%65.3%
195Terrelle Pryor◦ provisionalBUFWR3151.6%58.0%48.8%67.0%
196Quincy EnunwaNYJWR6955.1%58.0%50.4%65.4%
197Brandon Marshall◦ provisionalSEAWR2347.8%57.5%47.8%67.0%
198Keelan ColeJAXWR7054.3%57.5%50.0%64.9%
199Marquise Goodwin◦ provisionalSFWR4452.3%57.4%48.9%65.8%
200Zay JonesBUFWR10354.4%56.8%50.2%63.4%
201Donte MoncriefJAXWR8953.9%56.8%49.8%63.7%
202Marcell Ateman◦ provisionalLVWR3148.4%56.8%47.5%65.8%
203Andy Jones◦ provisionalDETWR2445.8%56.7%47.0%66.2%
204Pierre Garcon◦ provisionalSFWR4751.1%56.7%48.3%64.9%
205DeVante Parker◦ provisionalMIAWR4751.1%56.7%48.3%64.9%
206Michael CrabtreeBALWR10054.0%56.6%49.9%63.3%
207Aldrick Robinson◦ provisionalMINWR3548.6%56.4%47.4%65.3%
208Auden Tate◦ provisionalCINWR1233.3%56.4%45.8%66.7%
209Robbie ChosenNYJWR9453.2%56.2%49.3%63.0%
210Antonio CallawayCLEWR8252.4%56.0%48.8%63.1%
211Jarvis LandryCLEWR15054.0%56.0%50.1%61.7%
212Cody Core◦ provisionalCINWR2944.8%55.6%46.3%64.8%
213Marquez Valdes-ScantlingGBWR7451.3%55.6%48.2%62.9%
214David MooreSEAWR5349.1%55.3%47.1%63.3%
215J.J. Nelson◦ provisionalARIWR1936.8%55.0%44.9%64.8%
216DJ Chark◦ provisionalJAXWR3243.8%54.8%45.6%63.8%
217Michael Floyd◦ provisionalWASWR2540.0%54.6%44.9%64.0%
218Courtland SuttonDENWR8549.4%54.0%46.9%61.1%
219Jermaine KearseNYJWR7648.7%53.9%46.5%61.2%
220Justin Hunter◦ provisionalPITWR1323.1%53.8%43.3%64.2%
221Michael GallupDALWR6947.8%53.7%46.1%61.2%
222James Washington◦ provisionalPITWR3842.1%53.3%44.4%62.1%
223Chad Williams◦ provisionalARIWR4637.0%49.8%41.3%58.3%
224John BrownBALWR9842.9%49.2%42.4%56.0%
225John RossCINWR5836.2%47.9%40.0%55.9%
226Kelvin BenjaminKCWR6737.3%47.7%40.1%55.3%

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).