Alt rushing yards, alt receiving yards and alt passing yards are player props that let you bet on a different yardage number than the main line, at a different price. "Alt" is short for alternate. If a running back's main rushing line is 64.5 yards at -110, an alt rushing yards market might offer 40+ yards at a short price, 80+ yards at a plus price and 100+ yards at a long price. The further the number moves from the main line, the bigger the payout and the smaller the chance.
The idea is the same for every alt yardage market. You pick how many yards you think the player will gain, and the price adjusts to how likely that is.
What does alt rushing yards mean?
Alt rushing yards means betting on a rushing yardage number other than the player's main line. Say the main line for a running back is 64.5 rushing yards, with the over and the under both at -110. The alt rushing yards ladder for the same player could look like this:
| Alt rushing line | Example price | $10 bet profits | Implied chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40+ rushing yards | -300 | $3.33 | 75.0% |
| 60+ rushing yards | -130 | $7.69 | 56.5% |
| 80+ rushing yards | +175 | $17.50 | 36.4% |
| 100+ rushing yards | +400 | $40.00 | 20.0% |
The prices are an example, but the shape is real: each step up the ladder pays more because it is less likely. A bet on 100+ yards wins only if the back reaches 100, and it does not matter whether he gets there on 12 carries or 25. Quarterback scrambles count toward a quarterback's rushing yards, and yards lost on sacks are not counted against rushing yards in the official NFL stat. You can price any rung of a ladder against the main line with the alternate lines calculator.
What are alt receiving yards?
Alt receiving yards are the same idea for pass catchers: a wide receiver, tight end or running back's receiving total at a number other than the main line. If a receiver's main line is 58.5 yards, alt receiving yards might offer 40+, 75+ and 100+ yards. A receiver who catches one 80-yard touchdown and nothing else still clears 75+, because only the total counts.
Alt receiving yards vs receiving yards comes down to price. The main receiving yards line is set where the over and under are close to even, usually around -110 each. An alt line is any other number, priced to match how likely it is. Use the main line when you only have a view on over or under; use an alt line when you have a view on how far over.
The same structure shows up in alt receptions. Instead of yards, you bet on a number of catches, such as 4+, 6+ or 8+ receptions, each at its own price. Some books also list rushing plus receiving yards combined, often labeled alt total yards or scrimmage yards.
Bet the prop against people, not the house.
Books shade the popular props the hardest. On BettorEdge you take the other side of real bettors at a fairer number, and you are never limited for being right.
What is alt passing yards?
Alt passing yards is a quarterback's passing total at a number other than the main line. Passing totals are bigger and swing more than rushing totals, so the ladder is wider: a quarterback with a main line of 245.5 might have alt lines from 200+ to 325+ yards. Game script drives these bets. A quarterback whose team falls behind early tends to throw more, while a big lead often means more running in the second half.
What does alt yards mean on FanDuel and other sportsbooks?
On FanDuel and many other sportsbooks, alt yards markets are listed as milestones, such as "60+ rushing yards" or "100+ receiving yards," next to the player's main over/under line. A milestone is effectively an over bet at a fixed number: the bet wins if the player reaches it and loses if he falls short. Some books also offer alternate unders, but the plus-sign ladder is the most common format.
The rules are the same across sportsbooks: the official league stat decides the bet, overtime yards count, and a player who does not play is usually voided. Check each site's house rules for edge cases, like a player who leaves early with an injury, which normally still counts as action once he has played a snap.
The general idea of moving a line for a different price applies to spreads and totals too. The guide to alternate lines covers those, and the glossary entry for alt line has the short definition.
How to find value in alt yardage lines
Start from your own projection
Before looking at the ladder, estimate the player's yards. Recent usage matters most: carries and snap share for backs, targets and routes run for receivers, and pass attempts for quarterbacks. Then compare. If you project a receiver for 85 yards and the 75+ line is priced like a 40% chance, the alt line is where your view pays.
Read the matchup and the game plan
Overall defensive rankings hide a lot. A pass defense ranked in the middle of the league can still struggle against slot receivers or tight ends, and a weak run defense matters more when the offense is expected to lead. The point spread is a good guide to game flow, so learn how to read betting lines and use matchup analysis before picking a rung.
Mind the extra margin and shop the price
Alt lines often carry more house margin than the main line, especially the long-shot rungs. That makes line shopping more important here than almost anywhere else. Read more on why line shopping matters, and on using alt lines for hedging other positions.
For the full menu of yardage, reception and touchdown props, see NFL player props explained, and for model-based approaches, custom prediction models for player props.
Betting yardage props peer-to-peer on BettorEdge
BettorEdge is a peer-to-peer marketplace, so you bet against another person rather than against a sportsbook, with no vig built into the price. If you think a back is a better bet to reach 80 yards than the board says, you can post your own price and let another bettor take the other side. New to the model? Start with peer-to-peer betting explained or the overview of betting exchanges, then check the NFL odds board for this week's games.
Alt yards FAQ
What does alt rushing yards mean?
Alt rushing yards means betting on a rushing yardage number other than the player's main line, at a price that matches how likely it is. If a running back's main line is 64.5 yards at -110, alt rushing yards might offer 40+ at a short price and 100+ at a long one. The bet wins if the player reaches the chosen number, using the official league stat.
What are alt receiving yards?
Alt receiving yards are receiving yardage lines for a wide receiver, tight end or running back set above or below the main line, each with its own price. A receiver with a main line of 58.5 yards might have alt lines at 40+, 75+ and 100+ yards. Only the total counts, so one 80-yard catch clears the 75+ line on its own.
What is alt passing yards?
Alt passing yards is a quarterback's passing yardage total at a number other than the main line, priced up or down to match the new number. A quarterback with a main line of 245.5 might be offered 200+ yards at a short price and 300+ at a long one. Passing ladders are wider than rushing ladders because passing totals swing more from game to game.
What does alt yards mean on FanDuel?
On FanDuel, alt yards are milestone player props, such as 60+ rushing yards or 100+ receiving yards, listed next to the player's main over/under line. Each milestone is effectively an over at a fixed number with its own price. FanDuel and other sportsbooks grade them on the official league stat, and overtime yards count toward the total.
What is the difference between alt receiving yards and receiving yards?
The difference between alt receiving yards and receiving yards is the line and the price. The main receiving yards line is set where the over and under are close to even, usually around -110 each. Alt receiving yards move the line higher or lower, so a higher number pays more because it is less likely, and a lower number pays less.
Bet the prop against people, not the house.
Books shade the popular props the hardest. On BettorEdge you take the other side of real bettors at a fairer number, and you are never limited for being right.