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 · 2025

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
2512 TE · 59 WR
targets to trust the number
shrunkrawthe shrink90% CI
50%60%70%80%TE avgWR avg1Stefon DiggsNE · 10275.5%2Puka NacuaLA · 16673.6%3Jake FergusonDAL · 10372.5%4George KittleSF · 6972.5%5Dalton SchultzHOU · 10772.4%6Sam LaPortaDET · 4972.4%7Ja'Tavion SandersCAR · 3472.4%8Noah FantCIN · 4172.4%9Gunnar HelmTEN · 5572.4%10Ian ThomasLV · 1372.4%11T.J. HockensonMIN · 6672.4%12Juwan JohnsonNO · 10272.4%13Adam TrautmanDEN · 2372.4%14Elijah HigginsARI · 3772.4%15Trey McBrideARI · 17072.3%16Dalton KincaidBUF · 5072.3%17AJ BarnerSEA · 6872.3%18Colby ParkinsonLA · 5672.3%19Brenton StrangeJAX · 6072.3%20Austin HooperNE · 2672.3%21Jackson HawesBUF · 1972.3%22Pat FreiermuthPIT · 5472.3%23Kyle PittsATL · 11972.3%24Jeremy RuckertNYJ · 2972.3%25Tanner HudsonCIN · 2472.3%26Greg DulcichMIA · 3472.3%27Luke MusgraveGB · 3172.3%28Ben SinnottWAS · 1372.3%29John FitzPatrickGB · 1572.3%30Brock BowersLV · 8772.3%31Luke FarrellSF · 1472.3%32Greg DortchARI · 3371.2%33Luther Burden IIICHI · 6070.2%34Jayden ReedGB · 2268.5%35Kalif RaymondDET · 3068.0%36Brycen TremayneCAR · 1865.6%37Jalen McMillanTB · 1565.6%38Malachi CorleyCLE · 1465.1%39Gunner OlszewskiNYG · 1364.6%

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 · 2025 · full board

Catch rate leaderboard for the 2025 NFL season, shrunk by empirical Bayes with 90% credible intervals, ranked by the shrunk estimate.
#PlayerTeamPostargetsRawShrunk90% interval
1Stefon DiggsNEWR10283.3%75.5%69.7%80.8%
2Puka NacuaLAWR16677.7%73.6%68.6%78.3%
3Jake Ferguson◦ provisionalDALTE10379.6%72.5%71.1%73.9%
4George Kittle◦ provisionalSFTE6982.6%72.5%71.0%73.9%
5Dalton Schultz◦ provisionalHOUTE10776.6%72.4%71.0%73.8%
6Sam LaPorta◦ provisionalDETTE4981.6%72.4%70.9%73.8%
7Ja'Tavion Sanders◦ provisionalCARTE3485.3%72.4%70.9%73.8%
8Noah Fant◦ provisionalCINTE4182.9%72.4%70.9%73.8%
9Gunnar Helm◦ provisionalTENTE5580.0%72.4%70.9%73.8%
10Ian Thomas◦ provisionalLVTE13100.0%72.4%70.9%73.8%
11T.J. Hockenson◦ provisionalMINTE6677.3%72.4%70.9%73.8%
12Juwan Johnson◦ provisionalNOTE10275.5%72.4%70.9%73.8%
13Adam Trautman◦ provisionalDENTE2387.0%72.4%70.9%73.8%
14Elijah Higgins◦ provisionalARITE3781.1%72.4%70.9%73.8%
15Trey McBride◦ provisionalARITE17074.1%72.3%70.9%73.8%
16Dalton Kincaid◦ provisionalBUFTE5078.0%72.3%70.9%73.8%
17AJ Barner◦ provisionalSEATE6876.5%72.3%70.9%73.8%
18Colby Parkinson◦ provisionalLATE5676.8%72.3%70.9%73.8%
19Brenton Strange◦ provisionalJAXTE6076.7%72.3%70.9%73.8%
20Austin Hooper◦ provisionalNETE2680.8%72.3%70.8%73.8%
21Jackson Hawes◦ provisionalBUFTE1984.2%72.3%70.8%73.8%
22Pat Freiermuth◦ provisionalPITTE5475.9%72.3%70.8%73.7%
23Kyle Pitts◦ provisionalATLTE11974.0%72.3%70.9%73.7%
24Jeremy Ruckert◦ provisionalNYJTE2979.3%72.3%70.8%73.8%
25Tanner Hudson◦ provisionalCINTE2479.2%72.3%70.8%73.7%
26Greg Dulcich◦ provisionalMIATE3476.5%72.3%70.8%73.7%
27Luke Musgrave◦ provisionalGBTE3177.4%72.3%70.8%73.7%
28Ben Sinnott◦ provisionalWASTE1384.6%72.3%70.8%73.7%
29John FitzPatrick◦ provisionalGBTE1580.0%72.3%70.8%73.7%
30Brock Bowers◦ provisionalLVTE8773.6%72.3%70.8%73.7%
31Luke Farrell◦ provisionalSFTE1478.6%72.3%70.8%73.7%
32Isaiah Likely◦ provisionalBALTE3675.0%72.3%70.8%73.7%
33Mitchell Evans◦ provisionalCARTE2576.0%72.3%70.8%73.7%
34Dallas Goedert◦ provisionalPHITE8273.2%72.3%70.8%73.7%
35Jake Tonges◦ provisionalSFTE4673.9%72.3%70.8%73.7%
36Josh Oliver◦ provisionalMINTE2075.0%72.2%70.8%73.7%
37Drew Sample◦ provisionalCINTE2075.0%72.2%70.8%73.7%
38Cade Stover◦ provisionalHOUTE1675.0%72.2%70.8%73.7%
39Tommy Tremble◦ provisionalCARTE3773.0%72.2%70.8%73.7%
40Daniel Bellinger◦ provisionalNYGTE2673.1%72.2%70.8%73.7%
41Tucker Kraft◦ provisionalGBTE4472.7%72.2%70.8%73.7%
42Davis Allen◦ provisionalLATE3372.7%72.2%70.8%73.7%
43Dawson Knox◦ provisionalBUFTE5072.0%72.2%70.8%73.7%
44Hunter Long◦ provisionalJAXTE1770.6%72.2%70.7%73.7%
45Grant Calcaterra◦ provisionalPHITE1369.2%72.2%70.7%73.7%
46Cade Otton◦ provisionalTBTE8272.0%72.2%70.8%73.7%
47Julian Hill◦ provisionalMIATE2171.4%72.2%70.7%73.7%
48Brevyn Spann-Ford◦ provisionalDALTE1369.2%72.2%70.7%73.7%
49Taysom Hill◦ provisionalNOTE1668.8%72.2%70.7%73.7%
50Will Dissly◦ provisionalLACTE1668.8%72.2%70.7%73.7%
51John Bates◦ provisionalWASTE1668.8%72.2%70.7%73.7%
52Charlie Kolar◦ provisionalBALTE1566.7%72.2%70.7%73.6%
53Darnell Washington◦ provisionalPITTE4470.5%72.2%70.7%73.6%
54Oronde Gadsden II◦ provisionalLACTE6971.0%72.2%70.7%73.6%
55Tyler Higbee◦ provisionalLATE3669.4%72.2%70.7%73.6%
56Chig Okonkwo◦ provisionalTENTE7970.9%72.2%70.7%73.6%
57Michael Mayer◦ provisionalLVTE5070.0%72.2%70.7%73.6%
58Darren Waller◦ provisionalMIATE3568.6%72.2%70.7%73.6%
59Mo Alie-Cox◦ provisionalINDTE2065.0%72.2%70.7%73.6%
60David Njoku◦ provisionalCLETE4868.8%72.2%70.7%73.6%
61Jonnu Smith◦ provisionalPITTE5569.1%72.2%70.7%73.6%
62Brock Wright◦ provisionalDETTE2263.6%72.2%70.7%73.6%
63Tanner Conner◦ provisionalMIATE1560.0%72.2%70.7%73.6%
64Colston Loveland◦ provisionalCHITE8369.9%72.2%70.7%73.6%
65Zach Ertz◦ provisionalWASTE7368.5%72.1%70.7%73.6%
66Travis Kelce◦ provisionalKCTE10969.7%72.1%70.7%73.6%
67Mark Andrews◦ provisionalBALTE7068.6%72.1%70.7%73.6%
68Luke Schoonmaker◦ provisionalDALTE2360.9%72.1%70.6%73.6%
69Hunter Henry◦ provisionalNETE8769.0%72.1%70.7%73.6%
70Mike Gesicki◦ provisionalCINTE4365.1%72.1%70.6%73.6%
71Mason Taylor◦ provisionalNYJTE6666.7%72.1%70.6%73.5%
72Elijah Arroyo◦ provisionalSEATE2657.7%72.1%70.6%73.5%
73Johnny Mundt◦ provisionalJAXTE1947.4%72.0%70.6%73.5%
74Cole Kmet◦ provisionalCHITE4961.2%72.0%70.5%73.5%
75Evan Engram◦ provisionalDENTE7764.9%72.0%70.5%73.5%
76Harold Fannin Jr.◦ provisionalCLETE10866.7%72.0%70.5%73.4%
77Tyler Warren◦ provisionalINDTE11466.7%72.0%70.5%73.4%
78Noah Gray◦ provisionalKCTE3855.3%72.0%70.5%73.4%
79Terrance Ferguson◦ provisionalLATE2544.0%71.9%70.5%73.4%
80Theo Johnson◦ provisionalNYGTE7460.8%71.9%70.4%73.3%
81Greg Dortch◦ provisionalARIWR3387.9%71.2%63.2%78.7%
82Luther Burden IIICHIWR6078.3%70.2%63.1%76.8%
83Jaxon Smith-NjigbaSEAWR16373.0%70.0%64.9%75.0%
84Khalil ShakirBUFWR9774.2%69.6%63.4%75.4%
85Zay FlowersBALWR11972.3%68.8%63.0%74.4%
86Jayden Reed◦ provisionalGBWR2286.4%68.5%59.8%76.7%
87Deebo Samuel Sr.WASWR10072.0%68.3%62.1%74.2%
88Kalif Raymond◦ provisionalDETWR3080.0%68.0%59.7%75.8%
89Michael PittmanINDWR11470.2%67.3%61.4%73.1%
90JuJu Smith-Schuster◦ provisionalKCWR4573.3%66.8%59.1%74.2%
91Jalen Coker◦ provisionalCARWR4573.3%66.8%59.1%74.2%
92Sterling Shepard◦ provisionalTBWR5472.2%66.8%59.4%73.9%
93Marvin Mims Jr.◦ provisionalDENWR5172.5%66.8%59.3%74.0%
94Mack HollinsNEWR6570.8%66.5%59.5%73.3%
95Malik WashingtonMIAWR6570.8%66.5%59.5%73.3%
96Ryan Flournoy◦ provisionalDALWR5671.4%66.5%59.2%73.6%
97Jaylin Noel◦ provisionalHOUWR3574.3%66.5%58.3%74.3%
98Amon-Ra St. BrownDETWR17268.0%66.5%61.3%71.5%
99Kayshon Boutte◦ provisionalNEWR4671.7%66.2%58.5%73.6%
100Ja'Marr ChaseCINWR18567.6%66.2%61.2%71.1%
101Jakobi MeyersJAXWR11068.2%66.0%59.9%71.9%
102Isaiah Williams◦ provisionalNYJWR3672.2%65.8%57.6%73.6%
103George PickensDALWR13867.4%65.7%60.1%71.2%
104Xavier Smith◦ provisionalLAWR2475.0%65.7%57.0%74.0%
105Kendrick Bourne◦ provisionalSFWR5369.8%65.6%58.1%72.8%
106DeVonta SmithPHIWR11467.5%65.6%59.6%71.4%
107Brycen Tremayne◦ provisionalCARWR1877.8%65.6%56.5%74.2%
108Jalen McMillan◦ provisionalTBWR1580.0%65.6%56.3%74.3%
109Tyreek Hill◦ provisionalMIAWR2972.4%65.4%56.9%73.5%
110Tre Harris◦ provisionalLACWR4369.8%65.2%57.3%72.8%
111Malachi Corley◦ provisionalCLEWR1478.6%65.1%55.7%74.0%
112John Metchie III◦ provisionalNYJWR4868.8%65.0%57.3%72.4%
113Keenan AllenLACWR12266.4%64.9%59.0%70.7%
114Jordan Whittington◦ provisionalLAWR2572.0%64.9%56.2%73.2%
115Rashee RiceKCWR7967.1%64.9%58.1%71.4%
116Ricky Pearsall◦ provisionalSFWR5367.9%64.8%57.2%72.0%
117Gunner Olszewski◦ provisionalNYGWR1376.9%64.6%55.2%73.6%
118KaVontae Turpin◦ provisionalDALWR3868.4%64.5%56.3%72.2%
119Marquise BrownKCWR7466.2%64.3%57.4%71.0%
120DeMario Douglas◦ provisionalNEWR4667.4%64.3%56.5%71.8%
121Josh DownsINDWR8865.9%64.3%57.7%70.7%
122Wan'Dale RobinsonNYGWR14165.3%64.3%58.6%69.7%
123Cooper KuppSEAWR7166.2%64.2%57.2%71.0%
124Jack Bech◦ provisionalLVWR2969.0%64.2%55.7%72.4%
125Jimmy Horn Jr.◦ provisionalCARWR1573.3%64.2%54.9%73.1%
126Brandin Cooks◦ provisionalBUFWR3666.7%63.7%55.5%71.6%
127A.J. BrownPHIWR12164.5%63.6%57.6%69.4%
128Matthew Golden◦ provisionalGBWR4465.9%63.6%55.7%71.2%
129Chimere DikeTENWR7464.9%63.5%56.6%70.3%
130Chris OlaveNOWR15664.1%63.5%58.0%68.8%
131CeeDee LambDALWR11764.1%63.4%57.3%69.2%
132Dontayvion Wicks◦ provisionalGBWR4665.2%63.3%55.5%70.9%
133Luke McCaffrey◦ provisionalWASWR1668.8%63.3%54.1%72.2%
134Rashid ShaheedSEAWR9264.1%63.3%56.7%69.6%
135Jaylen WaddleMIAWR10064.0%63.2%56.9%69.4%
136Romeo DoubsGBWR8663.9%63.1%56.4%69.6%
137Jameson WilliamsDETWR10263.7%63.0%56.7%69.2%
138Zay Jones◦ provisionalARIWR1866.7%63.0%53.8%71.8%
139Gabe Davis◦ provisionalBUFWR1866.7%63.0%53.8%71.8%
140Tyler Johnson◦ provisionalNYJWR1866.7%63.0%53.8%71.8%
141Jamari Thrash◦ provisionalCLEWR1566.7%62.9%53.5%71.8%
142Tyrell Shavers◦ provisionalBUFWR2365.2%62.8%53.9%71.4%
143Christian Watson◦ provisionalGBWR5563.6%62.7%55.2%70.0%
144Tez Johnson◦ provisionalTBWR4463.6%62.6%54.7%70.3%
145Chris Godwin Jr.◦ provisionalTBWR5263.5%62.6%55.0%70.0%
146Terry McLaurinWASWR6063.3%62.6%55.2%69.8%
147Mason Tipton◦ provisionalNOWR1764.7%62.5%53.3%71.4%
148Pat Bryant◦ provisionalDENWR4963.3%62.5%54.8%70.0%
149Scott Miller◦ provisionalPITWR1464.3%62.4%52.9%71.4%
150Devaughn Vele◦ provisionalNOWR4062.5%62.1%54.0%70.0%
151Ladd McConkeyLACWR10662.3%62.1%55.9%68.2%
152Tim Patrick◦ provisionalJAXWR2462.5%62.1%53.2%70.6%
153Travis Hunter◦ provisionalJAXWR4562.2%62.0%54.1%69.7%
154Tre TuckerLVWR9262.0%61.9%55.4%68.3%
155Xavier Hutchinson◦ provisionalHOUWR5761.4%61.7%54.1%68.9%
156Demarcus Robinson◦ provisionalSFWR3661.1%61.6%53.3%69.6%
157Keon ColemanBUFWR6261.3%61.6%54.2%68.7%
158Michael WilsonARIWR12761.4%61.6%55.6%67.3%
159Dylan Drummond◦ provisionalATLWR1258.3%61.3%51.7%70.5%
160Quentin JohnstonLACWR8460.7%61.2%54.4%67.8%
161Troy FranklinDENWR10760.8%61.2%54.9%67.3%
162Tory Horton◦ provisionalSEAWR2259.1%61.1%52.1%69.8%
163Isaac TeSlaa◦ provisionalDETWR2759.3%61.1%52.3%69.5%
164Josh Palmer◦ provisionalBUFWR3759.5%61.0%52.7%69.0%
165Garrett WilsonNYJWR6060.0%60.9%53.5%68.2%
166Drake LondonATLWR11360.2%60.8%54.6%66.8%
167Roman Wilson◦ provisionalPITWR2157.1%60.7%51.6%69.4%
168Hunter Renfrow◦ provisionalCARWR2657.7%60.6%51.8%69.1%
169Parker WashingtonJAXWR9759.8%60.6%54.1%66.9%
170Jayden HigginsHOUWR6959.4%60.6%53.4%67.5%
171DK MetcalfPITWR9959.6%60.5%54.0%66.8%
172Tee HigginsCINWR9959.6%60.5%54.0%66.8%
173Xavier Weaver◦ provisionalARIWR1353.8%60.4%50.9%69.7%
174Allen Lazard◦ provisionalNYJWR1855.6%60.4%51.1%69.4%
175Olamide ZaccheausCHIWR6659.1%60.4%53.1%67.5%
176Kevin Austin Jr.◦ provisionalNOWR2356.5%60.4%51.4%69.1%
177Jauan JenningsSFWR9359.1%60.2%53.6%66.6%
178Nick Westbrook-Ikhine◦ provisionalMIAWR2055.0%60.2%51.0%69.0%
179DJ MooreCHIWR8558.8%60.1%53.3%66.7%
180Courtland SuttonDENWR12559.2%60.1%54.1%65.9%
181Justin JeffersonMINWR14259.2%60.0%54.2%65.6%
182Elijah Moore◦ provisionalBUFWR1752.9%59.9%50.5%68.9%
183James Proche◦ provisionalTENWR1250.0%59.9%50.2%69.2%
184Nico CollinsHOUWR12158.7%59.7%53.7%65.7%
185DeAndre Hopkins◦ provisionalBALWR3956.4%59.7%51.5%67.7%
186Isaiah Hodgins◦ provisionalNYGWR1952.6%59.6%50.4%68.6%
187Tyler Lockett◦ provisionalLVWR5657.1%59.6%52.0%67.0%
188Xavier WorthyKCWR7357.5%59.5%52.4%66.4%
189Andrei Iosivas◦ provisionalCINWR5856.9%59.4%51.9%66.8%
190Darius SlaytonNYGWR6556.9%59.3%52.0%66.4%
191Calvin Austin III◦ provisionalPITWR5556.4%59.2%51.6%66.7%
192Van Jefferson◦ provisionalTENWR5255.8%59.0%51.3%66.6%
193Lil'Jordan Humphrey◦ provisionalDENWR2552.0%59.0%50.0%67.6%
194Dyami Brown◦ provisionalJAXWR3754.0%58.9%50.5%67.0%
195Tetairoa McMillanCARWR12257.4%58.9%52.8%64.8%
196Ray-Ray McCloud◦ provisionalNYGWR1546.7%58.8%49.3%68.0%
197Gage Larvadain◦ provisionalCLEWR1546.7%58.8%49.3%68.0%
198Cedric Tillman◦ provisionalCLEWR3953.8%58.7%50.4%66.7%
199Josh Reynolds◦ provisionalNYJWR2250.0%58.7%49.6%67.5%
200KeAndre Lambert-Smith◦ provisionalLACWR1241.7%58.5%48.8%67.9%
201Adam Thielen◦ provisionalPITWR3652.8%58.4%50.1%66.6%
202Alec PierceINDWR8456.0%58.4%51.6%65.1%
203Marvin Harrison Jr.ARIWR7455.4%58.3%51.2%65.2%
204Casey Washington◦ provisionalATLWR1442.9%58.3%48.7%67.5%
205Xavier LegetteCARWR6454.7%58.1%50.8%65.4%
206Kyle Williams◦ provisionalNEWR2147.6%58.1%49.0%67.0%
207Arian Smith◦ provisionalNYJWR1643.8%58.0%48.6%67.2%
208Jalen Tolbert◦ provisionalDALWR3551.4%58.0%49.6%66.2%
209Malik Nabers◦ provisionalNYGWR3551.4%58.0%49.6%66.2%
210Jalen Nailor◦ provisionalMINWR5453.7%58.0%50.3%65.5%
211Chris Moore◦ provisionalWASWR2347.8%58.0%48.9%66.8%
212Tyquan Thornton◦ provisionalKCWR3751.3%57.8%49.5%66.0%
213Jaylin Lane◦ provisionalWASWR3250.0%57.7%49.1%66.1%
214Christian Kirk◦ provisionalHOUWR5352.8%57.6%49.9%65.2%
215Tutu Atwell◦ provisionalLAWR1540.0%57.5%47.9%66.7%
216Treylon Burks◦ provisionalWASWR2245.5%57.4%48.3%66.3%
217Marquez Valdes-Scantling◦ provisionalPITWR2948.3%57.4%48.7%65.9%
218David Sills◦ provisionalATLWR3650.0%57.4%49.0%65.6%
219Jahan Dotson◦ provisionalPHIWR3650.0%57.4%49.0%65.6%
220Jordan AddisonMINWR7953.2%56.9%49.9%63.7%
221Jalin Hyatt◦ provisionalNYGWR1435.7%56.9%47.3%66.2%
222Konata Mumpfield◦ provisionalLAWR2343.5%56.7%47.7%65.6%
223Rashod Bateman◦ provisionalBALWR3948.7%56.6%48.4%64.8%
224Brian Thomas Jr.JAXWR9152.8%56.4%49.7%62.9%
225Calvin Ridley◦ provisionalTENWR3647.2%56.3%47.9%64.6%
226Davante AdamsLAWR11452.6%55.8%49.6%62.0%
227Mike EvansTBWR6248.4%55.0%47.5%62.3%
228Rome OdunzeCHIWR9148.4%53.7%47.0%60.3%
229Mitchell Tinsley◦ provisionalCINWR2433.3%53.6%44.6%62.5%
230Emeka EgbukaTBWR12849.2%53.2%47.2%59.2%
231Isaiah Bond◦ provisionalCLEWR4440.9%52.9%44.9%61.0%
232Jerry JeudyCLEWR10647.2%52.4%46.0%58.8%
233Elic AyomanorTENWR8946.1%52.4%45.6%59.1%
234Darnell MooneyATLWR7244.4%52.3%45.1%59.4%
235Adonai MitchellNYJWR7444.6%52.3%45.1%59.4%
236Dont'e Thornton Jr.◦ provisionalLVWR3033.3%52.3%43.6%60.9%

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).