Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
Yards per carry is total rushing yards divided by the number of carries. It is the primary measure of a running back's efficiency. A YPC of 4.0 is roughly league average in the NFL; 4.5–5.0+ is strong for a featured back. Context matters — a dominant offensive line inflates YPC, while a weak line suppresses it. Yards per game adds a volume dimension: a back with 3.8 YPC on 25 carries contributes more than one with 5.0 on 10.
- Total yards ÷ carries
- 4.0 = roughly NFL average
- Context (O-line quality) matters hugely
- YPC + volume (ypg) gives full picture
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Yards per carry (total rushing yards divided by number of rushing attempts) measures a running back's average effectiveness per touch, and while a high YPC generally indicates an explosive, efficient runner, it can be skewed by a small number of very long runs — which is why analysts often consider YPC alongside consistency metrics like the percentage of carries gaining positive yardage for a fuller picture of a runner's actual game-to-game effectiveness.
FAQ
What's considered a good yards per carry average in football?
Above 4.5 yards per carry is generally considered solid for a running back over a season, with elite, explosive runners sometimes averaging 5.0+.
Can yards per carry be misleading as a stat?
Yes — a small number of very long breakaway runs can significantly inflate a season average even if most individual carries gained modest yardage, which is why analysts often pair YPC with consistency-focused metrics for a fuller picture.