Sports & Gaming · Statistics · Descriptive Statistics
Yards per Attempt Calculator
Calculates yards per attempt (YPA) for a quarterback or receiver by dividing total passing or rushing yards by total attempts.
Calculator
Formula
YPA (Yards per Attempt) equals Total Yards divided by Total Attempts. Total Yards is the cumulative yardage gained on all attempts; Total Attempts is the number of passes thrown or rushes attempted.
Source: NFL Official Playing Rules and Statistics Manual; Pro Football Reference glossary (YPA definition).
How it works
The formula is straightforward: divide the total yards gained by the total number of attempts. For passing, total yards typically includes all passing yards credited to the quarterback, and attempts counts every forward pass thrown (including incompletions). For rushing, total yards is the sum of all rushing yards, and attempts equals the number of carries. The result is expressed in yards per attempt, which allows direct comparisons across players, games, seasons, and eras.
YPA is one of the oldest and most widely used efficiency metrics in American football. Unlike raw yardage totals, YPA normalises for opportunity, meaning a quarterback who throws 300 attempts and gains 2700 yards posts the same 9.0 YPA as one who throws 500 attempts for 4500 yards. This normalisation makes it a fair comparative metric regardless of volume. It is used extensively by NFL teams, sports broadcasters, Pro Football Reference, and fantasy sports platforms.
Beyond the NFL, YPA is applied in college football (NCAA), arena football, and even flag football leagues. It is also used as a component in composite metrics such as the NFL Passer Rating and ESPN's Total QBR, where per-attempt efficiency carries significant weight. Coaches use game-level YPA to evaluate play-calling tendencies and defensive vulnerabilities.
Worked example
Scenario: A quarterback throws 487 pass attempts in a season and accumulates 4,183 passing yards.
Step 1 — Identify inputs: Total Yards = 4,183; Total Attempts = 487.
Step 2 — Apply the formula: YPA = 4,183 ÷ 487 = 8.59 yards per attempt.
Interpretation: An 8.59 YPA is considered an excellent season for an NFL quarterback. Historical averages across the league typically fall between 6.5 and 7.5 YPA, so this quarterback is performing well above the mean, indicating an efficient, downfield passing attack.
Rushing example: A running back records 312 carries for 1,404 rushing yards. YPA = 1,404 ÷ 312 = 4.50 yards per carry. A 4.5 YPC is generally regarded as a strong rushing average in the NFL, with league-wide averages typically near 4.2–4.4.
Limitations & notes
YPA does not account for touchdown passes or interceptions thrown, meaning a quarterback who consistently throws short, safe passes may have a lower YPA than a gunslinger who also throws frequent interceptions. For a more complete evaluation, combine YPA with touchdown-to-interception ratio or use a composite metric like the NFL Passer Rating. Additionally, YPA is sensitive to sample size — a single long play in a small number of attempts can dramatically inflate the figure, so always consider the number of attempts alongside the YPA value. Sack yards lost are generally excluded from passing YPA under standard NFL scoring rules but may be included under adjusted YPA (AYA) metrics, so confirm the definition being used before making comparisons.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good yards per attempt for an NFL quarterback?
Historically, the NFL league-wide passing YPA has ranged from about 6.5 to 7.5 yards per attempt. A YPA above 8.0 is considered excellent and typically ranks among the league leaders, while a YPA below 6.0 is generally regarded as below average. Elite single-season performances often exceed 8.5 YPA.
What is a good yards per carry for an NFL running back?
The NFL league average for rushing yards per carry typically falls between 4.2 and 4.4. A running back averaging 4.5 or higher is considered effective, and anything above 5.0 YPC over a full season is outstanding. Keep in mind that YPC can be skewed by a small number of breakaway runs.
How is yards per attempt different from yards per completion?
Yards per attempt (YPA) divides total passing yards by all pass attempts, including incompletions. Yards per completion divides total passing yards only by completed passes. Because YPA penalises incompletions, it is generally considered a better measure of overall passing efficiency, while yards per completion highlights the typical gain when a pass is caught.
Does yards per attempt include sack yards?
Under standard NFL and Pro Football Reference definitions, passing YPA excludes sack yardage. However, Adjusted Yards per Attempt (AYA) incorporates sacks and can provide a more complete picture of a quarterback's performance behind a given offensive line. When comparing YPA figures, always verify whether sacks are included or excluded.
Why does my calculator return no result when I enter 0 attempts?
Division by zero is mathematically undefined, so the calculator returns no result when total attempts is zero. You must have at least one attempt to calculate a meaningful YPA. This is also why small sample sizes should be interpreted cautiously — even one outlier play can produce a misleadingly high or low YPA.
Can this calculator be used for college football or other leagues?
Yes. The YPA formula is identical across all levels of American football — NFL, NCAA, CFL, arena football, and flag football. Simply enter the total yards and total attempts for any competition level and the calculator will return the correct YPA. Note that average YPA values differ by level; college passing YPA is often higher than NFL averages due to rule and talent differences.
Last updated: 2025-07-10 · Formula verified against primary sources.