--- slug: "pff-grade" title: PFF Grade depth_tier: entry side: UNIVERSAL category: Analytics source_id: "ANA-0004" created: 2026-04-19 updated: 2026-04-19 canonical: https://learningfootball.xyz/terms/pff-grade aliases: - Pro Football Focus grade - PFF score - PFF rating --- # PFF Grade ## Short Definition Pro Football Focus's assignment-based grade (40–99) given to every player on every snap—measuring execution quality independent of play result or volume. ## Definition PFF (Pro Football Focus) grades are assignment-based performance scores assigned by trained analysts who chart every player on every snap of every NFL game. Each player receives a grade from 40 to 99 on every play they are involved in, based on how well they executed their specific assignment—not on the outcome of the play itself. Grades above 70 are above average; above 80 are elite. The grading philosophy separates individual execution from team result. A receiver who runs a perfect route against a cornerback who makes a great play to break up the pass still receives a positive grade for his route. A running back who hits the correct lane at the right time receives a positive grade even if a defender makes a tackle for short gain. The grade evaluates what the player controlled. PFF grades break down by role—pass block grades, run block grades, pass rush grades, coverage grades, run defense grades—allowing direct comparison between players at the same position across different schemes and offensive systems. A guard's pass protection grade means the same thing regardless of whether his team runs a man or zone blocking scheme. The grades are proprietary and require PFF subscription access. They are widely cited in broadcast coverage, draft analysis, and NFL front offices as a complement to traditional statistics, with their greatest value in evaluating positions like offensive line where conventional box score stats provide almost no meaningful information. ## Example "His counting stats were pedestrian—40 catches, 520 yards. But his PFF receiving grade was 87.4, third in the league. The routes were elite, the targets just weren't there." ## Common Confusion PFF grades are not snap counts or production stats—they measure quality per snap, not volume. A receiver who runs 30 routes flawlessly grades higher than one who runs 70 routes with inconsistent technique, even if the second player has more catches and yards. PFF grades isolate what a player did on their assignments, not what the box score reflects. ## Related - dvoa - epa-expected-points-added - coverage-grade - pass-rush-win-rate - separation-score --- Source: https://learningfootball.xyz/terms/pff-grade