Rushing average or yards per carry average

“Rushing average” or “yards per carry average” is a metric utilized in American football to assess the performance of quarterbacks, running backs, and other personnel responsible for carrying the football during rushing attempts. The calculation involves the division of the overall rushing yards by the rushing attempts or carries. Input the formula:

Total rush yards divided by total rush attempts equals the rushing average (YPC).

To illustrate, in the case where a running back accumulates 100 yards on 20 carries, his rushing average (YPC) would be calculated as follows:

YPC = 100 yards divided by 20 carries equals 5 yards per carry.

Generally, a runner with a higher rushing average is considered more effective, given that they accumulate more yards per attempt. However, it is important to note that this statistic can occasionally be deceptive. For instance, a running back’s average may be inflated by a few extremely long runs, but he may be stopped at or behind the line of scrimmage on most of his other attempts. On the contrary, a running back who maintains a marginally lower average may amass four to five yards on each carry, a significant advantage when retaining the ball and advancing the chains.

However, the average yards per carry remains a frequently referenced metric in assessments of running back performance and the offensive line’s efficacy in establishing running channels.