What is yards after catch?

Yards after catch measures the yardage gained after a pass is caught. It helps separate the throw's downfield distance from what happens afterward.

For example, a catch 5 yards beyond the line followed by 13 more yards produces 13 YAC on an ordinary play. Do not confuse this with rushing yards after contact, which may also be abbreviated YAC. Fumble and lateral handling can affect comparisons between providers.