Certain statistics categories in football tell a story with raw numbers. A quarterback can take a place in the record book with a 4,000-yard season with 30 or more touchdown passes, or a running back, tight end or wide receiver can rack up more than 1,000 yards on the ground or in the air. Average yards tell another valuable aspect of the story, giving a picture of consistent excellence as well as volume throughout the season. Guides for statisticians at the NCAA and pro levels provide careful rules on how to count yards. Once the yards are tallied, calculating the averages for yards gained is straightforward.
Step 1
Divide the net rushing or passing yards -- total yards gained minus those lost -- over the season by the number of games, typically 16 in the regular season in the modern NFL, to arrive at a team's average yards gained per game rushing or passing. For example, in the 2010 regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs led the league in amassing 2,627 yards on the ground for an average 164 yards rushing per game. The Indianapolis Colts led with an average of 288 yards per game passing on a total of 4,609 yards.
Step 2
Divide an individual backfield player's net rushing yards for a game, season, playoffs or career by the number of carries for the time span you are evaluating to come up with an average rushing yards gained per carry. For example, Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans rushed 2,006 yards on 358 carries in 2009 for a gaudy 5.6 average yards gained per attempt. Divide by the number of games within the time span to come up with a rushing yards per game statistics. In this example, Johnson's 2,006 yards divided by 16 games reveals an average yards gained per game of 125.
Step 3
Perform similar calculations for a tight end or wide receiver's yards gained passing to know the average yards per catch or per game, season, playoffs or career. For example, Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers managed 1,563 yards in 2005 on 103 catches, for a tough-to-beat average of 15.2 yards per catch. An exceptional player might record an even better average that surpasses 20 yards, as Lance Alworth, Don Maynard and Bobby Mitchell did in the 1960s.
Step 4
Determine the average yards gained by a punt or kickoff returner by the same process, dividing the net yards by the number of attempts. For example, in 2010, Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears gained 564 yards on 33 punts for an average of 17.1 yards, while David Reed of the Baltimore Ravens averaged 29.3 yards on 21 kickoff returns, netting 616 yards.
Step 5
Count the net yards gained for all-purpose running for running backs who catch a lot of passes or tight ends or other players who also contribute on special teams. Tally the combined net yards rushing and receiving, as well as interception returns, punt returns, kickoff returns and run backs of field goals and divide by the number of touches on the ball.
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