Updated on: August 12, 2024 / 06:13 PM

NFL Top 10: Ranking the Fastest Players in the NFL

Speed is the name of the game in the NFL, particularly in the modern era of offensive play. Whether you are a diminutive figure like Tyreek Hill or ripped like DK Metcalf, it is the speed that can really turn a game on its head, as both players have shown countless times.

In this article, we will take a look at the 10 fastest players to look out for in the upcoming 2024 NFL season, highlighting their god-given ability and the accomplishments they have secured with it. When the time comes for them to take the field this season, remember, you can find all the latest TV and streaming information on Livesportsontv.com.

Fastest Players in the NFL - Ranked 1-10

Players are primarily ranked based on speeds taken from the last two seasons, apart from two notable exceptions.

1st - Tyreek Hill (Wide Receiver)

Hill is our first notable exception. We felt it was only fair to rank him first, considering he is the proud holder of the fastest-ever, officially recorded speed in NFL history.

Team: Miami Dolphins
Top recorded speed: 23.24 mph (2016 kick return)
Career highlights: Super Bowl Champion, 5 x First-Team All-Pro, 8 Pro Bowls, NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, NFL receiving yardage leader (2023), NFL receiving touchdowns co-leader (2023)
Interesting facts: His 23.24 mph is the fastest-ever, officially recorded speed in the NFL. It makes sense, therefore, that Hill has the nickname "Cheetah”.
Information: Tyreek Hill is widely regarded as the fastest player in the NFL. His speed makes him arguably the most dangerous weapon in the NFL, reflected by the fact that his peers ranked him 1st overall in the NFL’s Top 100. Hill can change direction in a split-second and has the burners to outrun every single defensive back in the league. His move to Miami was particularly terrifying because it partnered him with Mike McDaniel, who took pre-snap motions to the next level in 2023. He got Hill running at full speed before the ball was even snapped, making life impossible for opposing defenses. The result was a league-leading 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns, and Hill should be in for a similar output in 2024.

2nd - D.K. Metcalf (Wide Receiver)

Team: Seattle Seahawks
Top recorded speed: 22.23 mph (Week 13, 2023)
Career highlights: 2 Pro Bowls, 1 x Second-team All-Pro
Information: With the benefit of hindsight, it is truly remarkable that DK Metcalf wasn’t selected until the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The 6 foot 4, 235-pound wide receiver is one of the league’s most unique talents, combining the physicality of a linebacker with the speed and route-running of an elite receiver. The fact that he has posted the fastest recorded time in the last two seasons tells you all you need to know about how much of a physical specimen he is, making him one of the hardest wide receivers to defend against in the whole of the NFL.

3rd - Xavier Worthy

Okay, we are slightly cheating here, as Worthy hasn’t actually played a down in the NFL yet, but we had to slot him in after he ran the fastest-ever 40-yard dash.

Team: Kansas City-Chiefs
Top recorded speed: 4.21-second 40-yard dash
Career highlights: Freshman All-American, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Drafted in 1st Round of 2024 NFL draft
Interesting facts: His 40-yard dash time was the fastest ever recorded at the combine.
Information: Xavier Worthy is the exciting new name on the block, joining a rampant Kansas City dynasty as they hunt for the three-peat. His blazing speed is a very exciting attribute to add to an offense run by Patrick Mahomes’ elite arm and Andy Reid’s masterful game-planning. He is one of the more intriguing rookies to watch in 2024 for sure.

4th - Parris Campbell (Wide Receiver)

Team: Philadelphia Eagle
Top recorded speed: 22.11 mph (Week 18, 2022)
Career highlights: College Football National Champion
Interesting facts: His 22.11 mph run was the only play in the top-10 fastest runs of the 2022 & 2023 seasons that was under 40 yards. He got up to top speed very quickly when rushing in his 26-yard touchdown.
Information: Despite registering one of the quickest plays over the last two years, Parris Campbell has been unable to convert that speed into meaningful contributions on the gridiron. His 5 seasons have produced just 1,087 yards and his signing with the Eagles for 2024 puts him on his third team already.

5th - Kenneth Walker III (Running Back)

Team: Seattle Seahawks
Top recorded speed: 22.09 mph (Week 7, 2022)
Career highlights: PFWA All-Rookie Team
Interesting facts: Walker won the Doak Walker Award in 2021, which celebrates the nation’s best college running back
Information: At 211 pounds, Kenneth Walker is a strong, bruising running back, and he has been rock solid throughout his first two seasons in the league. His 1,000 yards as a rookie got him on the All-Rookie team, and he fell just short of hitting the 1,000 yard mark again as a sophomore in 2023. He was joined by highly-touted rookie Zach Charbonnet in 2023 to form one of the better running back stables in the NFL.

6th - Chase Brown (Running Back)

Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Top recorded speed: 22.05 mph (Week 14, 2023)
Career highlights: N/A
Interesting facts: Brown won the Jon Cornish Trophy in 2022 while at Illinois, celebrating the best Canadian player in the NCAA.
Information: Chase Brown was relatively unknown before the 54-yard touchdown that got him on this list. He is unproven and raw when it comes to running up the middle, but speed kills in the NFL, and he certainly has that.

7th - De'Von Achane (Running Back)

Team: Miami Dolphins
Top recorded speed: 21.93 mph (Week 3, 2023)
Career highlights: First-team All-SEC
Interesting facts: Achane’s 7.8 yards per carry in 2023 as a rookie set a new NFL record.
Information: De'Von Achane had the potential to be one of the most exciting rookies the NFL has ever seen, but injuries limited his snaps in 2023. His first proper appearance produced an outrageous 233 yards from scrimmage and 4 touchdowns against the hopeless Denver Broncos. He is a game-breaker as a rusher and a receiver, and is a perfect fit for Mike McDaniel’s genius, speed-based offensive game plans.

8th - Breece Hall (Running Back)

Team: New York Jets
Top recorded speed: 21.87 mph (Week 7, 2022)
Career highlights: Unanimous All-American (2020), Consensus All-American (2021), 2 X Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year
Interesting facts: Nicknamed "Breece Lightning" for his speed.
Information: It is very unfair on Breece Hall that he does not yet have any NFL accomplishments to slot into the career highlights section of this breakdown. An ACL tear brutally cut short his incredible rookie season, in which he posted 463 yards at an average of 5.8 yards per carry. He then fell just 6 yards short of the 1,000 mark on an awful offense in 2023, whilst also contributing 591 yards and 4 touchdowns as a receiver. He is a sublime talent and the future is very bright. If Aaron Rodgers can stay healthy and lead the Jets to relevance, Breece Hall is an Offensive Player of the Year candidate.

9th - Kavontae Turpin (Wide Receiver)

Team: Dallas Cowboys
Top recorded speed: 21.91 mph (Week 14, 2023)
Career highlights: Pro Bowl (as return specialist)
Information: Kavontae Turpin began his career in lower-level football leagues, before signing with the Dallas Cowboys to take on the return duties. In his first season in the NFL, he corralled over 800 return yards, which was good enough for a Pro Bowl selection. He was less effective in 2023, but did get 3 touchdowns as a receiver. What does 2024 hold for this speedster?

10th - Christian Watson (Wide Receiver)

Team: Green Bay Packers
Top recorded speed: 21.72 mph (Week 13, 2022)
Career highlights: N/A
Interesting facts: After struggling with recurring injuries, Watson saw a hamstring specialist this offseason who discovered he had a 20% muscle mass imbalance between his legs. This likely caused the injuries, which he has since worked to fix. Hopefully, injuries are a thing of the past for Watson now.Information: Christian Watson's two seasons in the NFL so far have been plagued by injuries, but the bright spots have been very bright. He is a thrilling, game-breaking talent at the receiver position, and perhaps 2024 can finally provide him the breakout he is after.

Author: Venuse, Inc.