In American football, the term "alt passing yards" refers to alternate or unofficial passing yardage totals that include yardage gained on certain plays typically excluded from official NFL passing statistics.
Key Differences
- Official Passing Yards (NFL Standard): Only include yardage gained on forward passes thrown by the quarterback (or passer) completed to an eligible receiver. Yardage after the catch (YAC) is still counted.
- Alt Passing Yards: Often include yardage gained on lateral passes later officially ruled as forward passes, or on lateral passes that occur after a forward pass reception (sometimes called "lateral yards" or "yards after lateral").
Significance
Alt passing yards are primarily used in:
- Advanced Analytics: Some analytical models incorporate these yards to create a more complete picture of air yardage production or total offensive contributions via passing actions.
- Betting or Fantasy Football Contexts: Specific niche markets or alternative scoring systems might track alt passing yards for unique wagering or fantasy purposes.
Important Note
The NFL's official record books and standard box scores use the traditional definition of passing yards. "Alt passing yards" are not official NFL statistics but represent supplementary or situational data tracked by specific analytics providers.
