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 · 2024

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
182 TE · 61 WR
targets to trust the number
shrunkrawthe shrink90% CI
50%60%70%80%TE avgWR avg1Amon-Ra St. BrownDET · 14176.0%2George KittleSF · 9475.9%3Pat FreiermuthPIT · 7875.6%4Jonnu SmithMIA · 11174.9%5Mark AndrewsBAL · 6974.3%6Drew SampleCIN · 2274.3%7Erick AllCIN · 2274.3%8Noah GrayKC · 4974.3%9Mike GesickiCIN · 8374.2%10Dallas GoedertPHI · 5274.2%11Cole KmetCHI · 5974.1%12Nate AdkinsDEN · 1573.9%13Will DisslyLAC · 6473.8%14Trey McBrideARI · 14773.7%15Elijah HigginsARI · 2473.6%16Nick VannettTEN · 2073.5%17Lucas KrullDEN · 2373.4%18AJ BarnerSEA · 3873.4%19Stone SmarttLAC · 1973.4%20Grant CalcaterraPHI · 3073.4%21Austin HooperNE · 5973.3%22Daniel BellingerNYG · 1773.1%23Ja'Tavion SandersCAR · 4373.1%24Josh OliverMIN · 2873.1%25Tanner HudsonCIN · 2473.1%26Brock WrightDET · 1673.0%27Brenton StrangeJAX · 5373.0%28Noah FantSEA · 6473.0%29Eric SaubertSF · 1472.7%30Luke SchoonmakerDAL · 3672.7%31Payne DurhamTB · 1472.7%32Chris Godwin Jr.TB · 6271.9%33Rashee RiceKC · 2969.4%34Jordan WhittingtonLA · 2868.0%35Tylan WallaceBAL · 1267.8%36Mecole HardmanKC · 1467.3%

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 · 2024 · full board

Catch rate leaderboard for the 2024 NFL season, shrunk by empirical Bayes with 90% credible intervals, ranked by the shrunk estimate.
#PlayerTeamPostargetsRawShrunk90% interval
1Amon-Ra St. BrownDETWR14181.6%76.0%70.9%80.8%
2George Kittle◦ provisionalSFTE9483.0%75.9%71.6%80.0%
3Pat Freiermuth◦ provisionalPITTE7883.3%75.6%71.1%79.9%
4Jonnu Smith◦ provisionalMIATE11179.3%74.9%70.7%79.0%
5Mark Andrews◦ provisionalBALTE6979.7%74.3%69.7%78.7%
6Drew Sample◦ provisionalCINTE2290.9%74.3%69.1%79.2%
7Erick All◦ provisionalCINTE2290.9%74.3%69.1%79.2%
8Noah Gray◦ provisionalKCTE4981.6%74.3%69.4%78.9%
9Mike Gesicki◦ provisionalCINTE8378.3%74.2%69.7%78.5%
10Dallas Goedert◦ provisionalPHITE5280.8%74.2%69.3%78.7%
11Cole Kmet◦ provisionalCHITE5979.7%74.1%69.3%78.6%
12Nate Adkins◦ provisionalDENTE1593.3%73.9%68.6%78.9%
13Will Dissly◦ provisionalLACTE6478.1%73.8%69.1%78.3%
14Trey McBride◦ provisionalARITE14775.5%73.7%69.7%77.6%
15Elijah Higgins◦ provisionalARITE2483.3%73.6%68.4%78.5%
16Nick Vannett◦ provisionalTENTE2085.0%73.5%68.3%78.5%
17Lucas Krull◦ provisionalDENTE2382.6%73.4%68.3%78.4%
18AJ Barner◦ provisionalSEATE3879.0%73.4%68.4%78.2%
19Stone Smartt◦ provisionalLACTE1984.2%73.4%68.2%78.4%
20Grant Calcaterra◦ provisionalPHITE3080.0%73.4%68.3%78.2%
21Austin Hooper◦ provisionalNETE5976.3%73.3%68.5%77.8%
22Daniel Bellinger◦ provisionalNYGTE1782.3%73.1%67.8%78.2%
23Ja'Tavion Sanders◦ provisionalCARTE4376.7%73.1%68.2%77.9%
24Josh Oliver◦ provisionalMINTE2878.6%73.1%68.0%78.0%
25Tanner Hudson◦ provisionalCINTE2479.2%73.1%67.9%78.0%
26Brock Wright◦ provisionalDETTE1681.3%73.0%67.7%78.0%
27Brenton Strange◦ provisionalJAXTE5375.5%73.0%68.1%77.6%
28Noah Fant◦ provisionalSEATE6475.0%73.0%68.2%77.5%
29Eric Saubert◦ provisionalSFTE1478.6%72.7%67.4%77.8%
30Luke Schoonmaker◦ provisionalDALTE3675.0%72.7%67.7%77.6%
31Darnell Washington◦ provisionalPITTE2576.0%72.7%67.5%77.7%
32Payne Durham◦ provisionalTBTE1478.6%72.7%67.4%77.8%
33Brock Bowers◦ provisionalLVTE15373.2%72.7%68.6%76.6%
34Foster Moreau◦ provisionalNOTE4374.4%72.7%67.7%77.5%
35Juwan Johnson◦ provisionalNOTE6873.5%72.6%67.9%77.1%
36Taysom Hill◦ provisionalNOTE3174.2%72.6%67.4%77.5%
37Chig Okonkwo◦ provisionalTENTE7173.2%72.5%67.8%77.0%
38Josh Whyle◦ provisionalTENTE3873.7%72.5%67.5%77.3%
39Harrison Bryant◦ provisionalLVTE1275.0%72.5%67.0%77.6%
40Travis Kelce◦ provisionalKCTE13472.4%72.3%68.1%76.4%
41Isaiah Likely◦ provisionalBALTE5872.4%72.3%67.5%77.0%
42Sam LaPorta◦ provisionalDETTE8372.3%72.3%67.7%76.7%
43Tommy Tremble◦ provisionalCARTE3271.9%72.2%67.1%77.1%
44Luke Farrell◦ provisionalJAXTE1770.6%72.1%66.8%77.2%
45Johnny Mundt◦ provisionalMINTE2770.4%72.0%66.8%77.0%
46Tyler Higbee◦ provisionalLATE1266.7%71.9%66.5%77.1%
47Pharaoh Brown◦ provisionalSEATE1266.7%71.9%66.5%77.1%
48Chris Godwin Jr.TBWR6280.7%71.9%65.1%78.4%
49Cade Stover◦ provisionalHOUTE2268.2%71.8%66.5%76.9%
50Zach Ertz◦ provisionalWASTE9371.0%71.8%67.3%76.2%
51Tucker Kraft◦ provisionalGBTE7170.4%71.8%67.0%76.3%
52Andrew Ogletree◦ provisionalINDTE1464.3%71.7%66.3%76.9%
53Brevyn Spann-Ford◦ provisionalDALTE1464.3%71.7%66.3%76.9%
54Evan Engram◦ provisionalJAXTE6770.2%71.7%66.9%76.3%
55Tyler Conklin◦ provisionalNYJTE7369.9%71.6%66.8%76.1%
56Gerald Everett◦ provisionalCHITE1361.5%71.6%66.1%76.7%
57Hayden Hurst◦ provisionalLACTE1361.5%71.6%66.1%76.7%
58John Bates◦ provisionalWASTE1361.5%71.6%66.1%76.7%
59Jordan Akins◦ provisionalCLETE5869.0%71.5%66.6%76.2%
60Dawson Knox◦ provisionalBUFTE3366.7%71.4%66.3%76.4%
61Charlie Woerner◦ provisionalATLTE1258.3%71.4%66.0%76.6%
62Theo Johnson◦ provisionalNYGTE4367.4%71.4%66.3%76.2%
63Michael Mayer◦ provisionalLVTE3265.6%71.3%66.1%76.2%
64Jeremy Ruckert◦ provisionalNYJTE2864.3%71.2%66.0%76.2%
65Khalil ShakirBUFWR10076.0%71.1%65.1%76.8%
66Jake Ferguson◦ provisionalDALTE8668.6%71.1%66.5%75.5%
67Julian Hill◦ provisionalMIATE2060.0%71.1%65.7%76.2%
68Adam Trautman◦ provisionalDENTE2259.1%70.9%65.5%76.0%
69Cade Otton◦ provisionalTBTE8767.8%70.8%66.2%75.3%
70Hunter Henry◦ provisionalNETE9768.0%70.8%66.3%75.2%
71T.J. Hockenson◦ provisionalMINTE6266.1%70.7%65.8%75.4%
72Durham Smythe◦ provisionalMIATE1752.9%70.6%65.2%75.8%
73DeMario DouglasNEWR8775.9%70.6%64.3%76.6%
74Davis Allen◦ provisionalLATE1346.2%70.5%65.1%75.8%
75DeVonta SmithPHIWR9075.6%70.5%64.3%76.4%
76Greg Dulcich◦ provisionalNYGTE1241.7%70.4%64.9%75.6%
77Adam ThielenCARWR6277.4%70.3%63.4%76.9%
78Ja'Marr ChaseCINWR17572.6%70.1%65.1%74.9%
79Mo Alie-Cox◦ provisionalINDTE2352.2%70.0%64.7%75.2%
80Colby Parkinson◦ provisionalLATE4961.2%69.9%64.9%74.8%
81Puka NacuaLAWR10773.8%69.9%64.0%75.6%
82Kyle Pitts◦ provisionalATLTE7463.5%69.7%64.9%74.4%
83David Njoku◦ provisionalCLETE9964.6%69.6%65.0%74.0%
84Jaxon Smith-NjigbaSEAWR13872.5%69.6%64.1%74.8%
85Rashee Rice◦ provisionalKCWR2982.8%69.4%61.2%77.1%
86Ladd McConkeyLACWR11372.6%69.2%63.4%74.9%
87Dalton Schultz◦ provisionalHOUTE8562.4%69.1%64.4%73.7%
88Devaughn Vele◦ provisionalDENWR5574.6%68.5%61.3%75.4%
89Stefon DiggsHOUWR6473.4%68.4%61.4%75.0%
90Kylen Granson◦ provisionalINDTE3145.2%68.3%63.0%73.5%
91Dalton Kincaid◦ provisionalBUFTE7558.7%68.3%63.5%73.0%
92Jayden ReedGBWR7672.4%68.2%61.6%74.6%
93Greg Dortch◦ provisionalARIWR5074.0%68.0%60.6%75.1%
94Marvin Mims Jr.◦ provisionalDENWR5373.6%68.0%60.6%74.9%
95Jordan Whittington◦ provisionalLAWR2878.6%68.0%59.6%75.8%
96Ray-Ray McCloudATLWR8771.3%67.9%61.5%74.1%
97Dyami Brown◦ provisionalWASWR4075.0%67.8%60.0%75.2%
98Tylan Wallace◦ provisionalBALWR1291.7%67.8%58.6%76.4%
99Tim Patrick◦ provisionalDETWR4573.3%67.4%59.8%74.7%
100Mecole Hardman◦ provisionalKCWR1485.7%67.3%58.2%75.9%
101Terry McLaurinWASWR11869.5%67.3%61.5%73.0%
102DJ MooreCHIWR14269.0%67.2%61.7%72.5%
103Kendrick Bourne◦ provisionalNEWR3873.7%67.2%59.2%74.7%
104Chris Olave◦ provisionalNOWR4472.7%67.1%59.4%74.4%
105DeAndre HopkinsKCWR8070.0%67.0%60.4%73.4%
106Kalif Raymond◦ provisionalDETWR2277.3%66.8%58.2%75.1%
107Olamide ZaccheausWASWR6470.3%66.8%59.7%73.5%
108A.J. BrownPHIWR9769.1%66.8%60.5%72.8%
109Nico CollinsHOUWR9968.7%66.5%60.3%72.5%
110Malik Washington◦ provisionalMIAWR3672.2%66.5%58.5%74.1%
111Cedrick Wilson Jr.◦ provisionalNOWR2774.1%66.5%58.0%74.5%
112Jauan JenningsSFWR11368.1%66.4%60.4%72.1%
113Jaylen WaddleMIAWR8568.2%66.1%59.5%72.4%
114Derius Davis◦ provisionalLACWR1776.5%66.0%57.0%74.5%
115Jalen Coker◦ provisionalCARWR4669.6%65.9%58.2%73.2%
116Justin JeffersonMINWR15466.9%65.8%60.4%71.0%
117Mike EvansTBWR11067.3%65.8%59.7%71.6%
118Josh DownsINDWR10767.3%65.8%59.7%71.7%
119Jakobi MeyersLVWR13066.9%65.7%60.0%71.2%
120Luke McCaffrey◦ provisionalWASWR2572.0%65.7%57.1%73.8%
121Lil'Jordan Humphrey◦ provisionalDENWR4568.9%65.5%57.8%72.9%
122Cooper KuppLAWR10067.0%65.5%59.3%71.5%
123Malik Heath◦ provisionalGBWR1376.9%65.5%56.3%74.3%
124Tutu AtwellLAWR6267.7%65.4%58.3%72.3%
125Wan'Dale RobinsonNYGWR14066.4%65.4%59.8%70.8%
126Tee HigginsCINWR11066.4%65.2%59.1%71.1%
127Jake Bobo◦ provisionalSEAWR1872.2%65.2%56.2%73.7%
128Tyler Boyd◦ provisionalTENWR5867.2%65.1%57.8%72.1%
129Justin Watson◦ provisionalKCWR3268.8%65.0%56.8%72.9%
130Tyreek HillMIAWR12365.8%64.9%59.1%70.6%
131Curtis Samuel◦ provisionalBUFWR4667.4%64.9%57.2%72.3%
132JuJu Smith-Schuster◦ provisionalKCWR2669.2%64.9%56.4%73.1%
133CeeDee LambDALWR15465.6%64.9%59.5%70.1%
134Garrett WilsonNYJWR15465.6%64.9%59.5%70.1%
135Tyler LockettSEAWR7466.2%64.8%58.0%71.4%
136Michael WilsonARIWR7166.2%64.8%57.8%71.5%
137Ryan Flournoy◦ provisionalDALWR1471.4%64.6%55.4%73.4%
138Jalen Nailor◦ provisionalMINWR4266.7%64.5%56.7%72.1%
139Ricky Pearsall◦ provisionalSFWR4766.0%64.3%56.6%71.7%
140Robert Woods◦ provisionalHOUWR3066.7%64.3%55.9%72.3%
141Devin Duvernay◦ provisionalJAXWR1668.8%64.3%55.1%73.0%
142Jamison Crowder◦ provisionalWASWR1369.2%64.2%54.9%73.1%
143Brian Thomas Jr.JAXWR13564.4%64.0%58.3%69.6%
144John Metchie III◦ provisionalHOUWR3764.9%63.8%55.7%71.5%
145Jameson WilliamsDETWR9163.7%63.5%57.0%69.8%
146Jalen McMillan◦ provisionalTBWR5863.8%63.4%56.1%70.5%
147DeAndre Carter◦ provisionalCHIWR1464.3%63.3%54.0%72.2%
148Malik NabersNYGWR17263.4%63.3%58.1%68.4%
149Tyler Johnson◦ provisionalLAWR4163.4%63.2%55.3%70.9%
150Zay FlowersBALWR11763.2%63.2%57.2%69.0%
151Romeo DoubsGBWR7363.0%63.0%56.1%69.8%
152Jordan AddisonMINWR10063.0%63.0%56.7%69.2%
153Deebo Samuel Sr.SFWR8163.0%63.0%56.3%69.6%
154Tank DellHOUWR8163.0%63.0%56.3%69.6%
155Drake LondonATLWR15962.9%62.9%57.5%68.2%
156Noah Brown◦ provisionalWASWR5662.5%62.8%55.4%70.0%
157Rashod BatemanBALWR7262.5%62.8%55.8%69.5%
158Kayshon BoutteNEWR6962.3%62.7%55.6%69.5%
159Mack Hollins◦ provisionalBUFWR5062.0%62.6%54.9%70.0%
160Calvin Austin III◦ provisionalPITWR5862.1%62.6%55.2%69.7%
161Marquise Brown◦ provisionalKCWR1560.0%62.5%53.2%71.4%
162Jalen TolbertDALWR7962.0%62.5%55.7%69.1%
163Bub Means◦ provisionalNOWR1560.0%62.5%53.2%71.4%
164Sterling Shepard◦ provisionalTBWR5261.5%62.4%54.8%69.7%
165Ryan Miller◦ provisionalTBWR2060.0%62.3%53.4%71.0%
166KhaDarel Hodge◦ provisionalATLWR1258.3%62.3%52.9%71.4%
167Jalen Reagor◦ provisionalLACWR1258.3%62.3%52.9%71.4%
168Michael PittmanINDWR11261.6%62.1%56.0%68.1%
169Mike Williams◦ provisionalPITWR3560.0%62.0%53.7%69.9%
170Allen Lazard◦ provisionalNYJWR6160.7%61.9%54.6%69.0%
171Van Jefferson◦ provisionalPITWR4060.0%61.9%53.8%69.7%
172Parker Washington◦ provisionalJAXWR5360.4%61.8%54.3%69.2%
173Quentin JohnstonLACWR9160.4%61.5%54.9%67.9%
174KaVontae Turpin◦ provisionalDALWR5259.6%61.5%53.9%68.9%
175Jerry JeudyCLEWR14860.8%61.5%55.9%66.9%
176DK MetcalfSEAWR10960.6%61.5%55.3%67.5%
177Darnell MooneyATLWR10660.4%61.4%55.1%67.5%
178Jahan Dotson◦ provisionalPHIWR3357.6%61.2%52.8%69.3%
179Andrei Iosivas◦ provisionalCINWR6159.0%61.1%53.7%68.2%
180Elijah MooreCLEWR10259.8%61.0%54.7%67.2%
181Courtland SuttonDENWR13560.0%61.0%55.2%66.6%
182Chris Conley◦ provisionalSFWR1250.0%61.0%51.4%70.1%
183Xavier WorthyKCWR9959.6%60.9%54.5%67.2%
184Davante AdamsNYJWR14259.9%60.8%55.1%66.4%
185Trey Palmer◦ provisionalTBWR2254.5%60.8%51.9%69.4%
186Christian Kirk◦ provisionalJAXWR4757.5%60.6%52.8%68.2%
187Josh Reynolds◦ provisionalJAXWR2454.2%60.6%51.8%69.1%
188DJ Turner◦ provisionalLVWR2955.2%60.6%52.0%68.8%
189Josh PalmerLACWR6758.2%60.5%53.4%67.5%
190Mason Tipton◦ provisionalNOWR2653.8%60.3%51.6%68.8%
191Cedric Tillman◦ provisionalCLEWR5156.9%60.3%52.6%67.7%
192Tre TuckerLVWR8158.0%60.2%53.4%66.9%
193Xavier LegetteCARWR8557.6%59.9%53.2%66.5%
194David Moore◦ provisionalCARWR5756.1%59.7%52.3%67.0%
195Kevin Austin Jr.◦ provisionalNOWR2250.0%59.6%50.7%68.3%
196George PickensPITWR10357.3%59.5%53.1%65.7%
197Odell Beckham Jr.◦ provisionalMIAWR1947.4%59.4%50.3%68.2%
198Keenan AllenCHIWR12356.9%59.0%53.0%64.9%
199Brandon Aiyuk◦ provisionalSFWR4753.2%58.8%50.9%66.5%
200Christian Watson◦ provisionalGBWR5453.7%58.7%51.1%66.1%
201Nelson Agholor◦ provisionalBALWR2948.3%58.3%49.7%66.7%
202Mike Woods◦ provisionalCLEWR1741.2%58.3%49.1%67.3%
203Troy Franklin◦ provisionalDENWR5352.8%58.3%50.7%65.8%
204Darius SlaytonNYGWR7254.2%58.3%51.2%65.2%
205Nick Westbrook-Ikhine◦ provisionalTENWR6053.3%58.3%50.8%65.5%
206Jalin Hyatt◦ provisionalNYGWR1942.1%58.1%49.0%67.0%
207Alec PierceINDWR6953.6%58.1%50.9%65.1%
208Xavier Hutchinson◦ provisionalHOUWR2646.2%58.0%49.3%66.6%
209Simi Fehoko◦ provisionalLACWR1637.5%57.8%48.5%66.9%
210K.J. Osborn◦ provisionalWASWR1838.9%57.6%48.4%66.6%
211Rashid Shaheed◦ provisionalNOWR4148.8%57.4%49.3%65.3%
212Johnny Wilson◦ provisionalPHIWR1533.3%57.2%47.9%66.4%
213Rome OdunzeCHIWR10153.5%57.1%50.7%63.4%
214Gabe Davis◦ provisionalJAXWR4247.6%56.8%48.7%64.7%
215Marvin Harrison Jr.ARIWR11653.4%56.8%50.6%62.8%
216Keon Coleman◦ provisionalBUFWR5850.0%56.7%49.2%64.1%
217Jermaine Burton◦ provisionalCINWR1428.6%56.7%47.2%65.9%
218Calvin RidleyTENWR12053.3%56.6%50.5%62.6%
219Dontayvion WicksGBWR7651.3%56.6%49.6%63.4%
220Amari CooperBUFWR8551.8%56.5%49.7%63.2%
221Dante Pettis◦ provisionalNOWR2941.4%56.1%47.5%64.6%
222Brandin Cooks◦ provisionalDALWR5448.1%56.1%48.4%63.6%
223Diontae JohnsonHOUWR6749.3%55.9%48.6%63.0%
224Jalen Brooks◦ provisionalDALWR3040.0%55.5%46.9%63.9%
225Marquez Valdes-Scantling◦ provisionalNOWR4443.2%54.8%46.8%62.7%
226Demarcus RobinsonLAWR6647.0%54.7%47.4%61.9%
227Jonathan Mingo◦ provisionalDALWR4240.5%53.9%45.8%61.9%
228Ja'Lynn Polk◦ provisionalNEWR3435.3%53.2%44.7%61.5%
229Adonai Mitchell◦ provisionalINDWR5541.8%53.0%45.4%60.6%

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).