Production is a question of context.

A raw yardage total tells you what happened. Expected points added asks how much the play changed the scoring outlook.

EPA compares the expected scoring value before and after a play, accounting for the resulting game state. The football player index uses the EPA values published by SportsDataverse. We rank qualified FBS players by total EPA within passing, rushing or receiving, preserving the publisher’s figures rather than pretending they are our own player model.

Volume and efficiency answer different questions

Total EPA rewards accumulated contribution. EPA per play helps describe efficiency. A player with a handful of successful plays can post an eye-catching average, so our ranks require at least 100 passing plays, 50 rushing plays or 30 receiving plays. These fixed thresholds are browsing aids, not a statistical claim that samples above them are reliable.

Show both columns when comparing players. Ask whether a strong average survives meaningful volume, whether the player’s opportunities differ, and whether the game log reveals a concentrated contribution in one matchup.

Do not add overlapping credit

Passing and receiving statistics may describe the same play. Adding their EPA can double-count offensive value. Our index keeps the categories separate and does not produce an all-position composite score. Defensive and specialist box scores remain accessible without invented equivalents.

Production is not recruiting availability

A 2025 team label describes the program associated with that season’s record. It does not confirm a 2026 roster spot, transfer status, eligibility, or interest in another program. Recruit evaluation requires confirmed roster information and film in addition to statistical production.

Start with the player index, then open a game log to inspect the source records. Missing fields are shown as unavailable. Generic source columns retain their original names when their meaning has not been established.

Data attribution: SportsDataverse, CC BY 4.0. See the source receipts and model notebook.