---
slug: "air-yards"
title: Air Yards
depth_tier: entry
side: OFFENSE
category: Analytics
source_id: "ANA-0005"
created: 2026-04-19
updated: 2026-04-19
canonical: https://learningfootball.xyz/terms/air-yards
aliases:
  - air yards
  - depth of target
  - DOT
  - intended air yards
---
# Air Yards

## Short Definition

The distance a forward pass travels through the air from the line of scrimmage to the catch point—foundation for depth-of-target and CPOE analytics.

## Definition

Air yards measure the distance a forward pass travels through the air from the line of scrimmage to the point where the ball arrives—whether caught, incomplete, or intercepted. A 20-air-yard throw is one where the ball crosses 20 yards past the line of scrimmage before the receiver touches it. Air yards are tracked regardless of the play's result.

Air yards underlie two of the most important modern quarterback metrics: intended air yards per attempt (the average depth a quarterback throws, reflecting his willingness to attack downfield) and completed air yards (the average depth on completions only). The gap between intended and completed air yards shows how often a quarterback is converting on deep attempts versus checking down.

For receivers, target air yards reveal what a coaching staff is asking a player to do—a receiver averaging 8 air yards per target is running intermediate routes, while one averaging 15 is being asked to attack the deep middle or perimeter. Accumulating air yards even on incomplete passes signals a receiver the defense must account for.

Air yards also feed into CPOE (Completion Percentage Over Expected). Since deeper throws are harder to complete, a quarterback's air-yards profile sets the baseline against which his completion percentage is compared. A quarterback who throws at 12 average air yards and completes 65% of his passes is doing something very different than one who completes 65% at 7 air yards.

## Example

"He leads the league in intended air yards per attempt—12.4 on average. That's not a checkdown quarterback, that's someone the defense has to account for vertically on every snap."

## Common Confusion

Air yards measure where the ball was thrown, not where the receiver caught it. A pass thrown 15 yards downfield where the receiver catches it and returns 5 yards has 15 air yards regardless of the 10-yard net gain. Air yards stop at the catch point, not the end of the play—the remaining yards gained after the catch are tracked separately as yards after catch (YAC).

## Related

- yac-yards-after-catch
- cpoe
- epa-expected-points-added
- target-share
- separation-score
- true-completion-percentage

---
Source: https://learningfootball.xyz/terms/air-yards