What Is PFF?
PFF stands for Pro Football Focus, a company that provides advanced data analytics for NFL and college football. Founded in 2006, PFF evaluates every player on every play using a detailed film review process.
Instead of relying only on traditional stats like yards or touchdowns, PFF assigns grades and rankings based on how well players perform their specific responsibilities during each play.
What Does “PFF Rank” Mean?
The PFF Rank shows how a player compares to others at the same position based on their overall performance grade.
For example:
- A player with a PFF Rank of #1 is the highest-graded player at his position.
- A player ranked #50 might be average or below average among all players in that position group.
👉 In short:
PFF Rank = player’s position among peers according to Pro Football Focus grading.
How PFF Grades Are Calculated
Each play is graded on a scale from -2 to +2, in 0.5 increments:
- +2.0: Exceptional play (e.g., perfect throw into tight coverage)
- +1.0: Good play
- 0.0: Average / expected performance
- -1.0: Poor play
- -2.0: Catastrophic mistake (e.g., blown coverage leading to a touchdown)
Then, all plays are normalized based on difficulty, adjusted for position, game context, and opponent, and converted into a 0–100 scale.
That final number is the PFF Grade, which is used to generate PFF Ranks.
Example: PFF Rank in Action
Player | Position | PFF Grade | PFF Rank |
Patrick Mahomes | QB | 92.5 | #1 |
Joe Burrow | QB | 90.1 | #2 |
Dak Prescott | QB | 84.3 | #7 |
Here, Mahomes has the highest grade, giving him the #1 PFF Rank among quarterbacks.
Why PFF Rankings Matter
PFF rankings are used by:
- NFL teams – for scouting and contract evaluation
- Analysts & media – to support arguments in debates
- Fantasy players & bettors – to find underrated or overvalued players
Because PFF reviews every play independently, it often highlights hidden performance trends that don’t show up in traditional box scores.
Limitations of PFF Rankings
While useful, PFF grades aren’t flawless:
- They still involve human judgment — analysts watch and score plays manually.
- Some positions (like offensive linemen) are harder to quantify statistically.
- Context (scheme, teammates, play design) can influence how a grade looks.
That’s why many teams combine PFF data with their own internal analytics.
Common PFF Metrics You Might See
Metric | Meaning |
PFF Grade | 0-100 score summarizing player performance |
PFF Rank | Player’s ranking at their position |
Run Defense Grade | Performance on rushing plays |
Pass Blocking Grade | How well a player protects the QB |
Coverage Grade | For defensive backs guarding receivers |
These breakdowns allow you to see strengths and weaknesses across different skills.
Final Thoughts
So, what does PFF Rank mean in football?
It’s a data-driven rating system that ranks players based on film-graded performance rather than just stats.
A high PFF Rank means a player consistently performs well in their assigned role — even if the box score doesn’t show it.
In modern football, PFF metrics are one of the most respected indicators of true player quality, used everywhere from ESPN analysis to NFL front offices.