Even though the NFL is still all about power and hard hits, recent rule changes have allowed speed and agility to take center stage. Today, smaller players who might have been overpowered in the past can now use their quickness and explosive moves to make a significant impact. So, who’s blazing the trail in the league? We’ve ranked the NFL’s fastest active players this season, considering their top game speeds, athletic test results, and what we’ve seen on the field.
A Look At NFL’s Fastest Active Players
10) Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals, Running Back
Chase Brown had just 58 touches in his 2023 rookie season but maximized every chance he got. In Week 14 against the Indianapolis Colts, Brown grabbed a screen pass from Bengals backup quarterback Jake Browning and sprinted for a 54-yard touchdown. He reached 22.05 miles per hour on the play, the second-fastest speed recorded in the NFL last year. In 2024, Brown will compete with Zack Moss, a free-agent signing by the Bengals, for carries and catches. However, his physical talent positions him well for success.
9) Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins, Wide Receiver
Jaylen Waddle, the first Dolphin on our list, is the closest thing to Tyreek Hill. Although teams have repeatedly tried and failed to find the “next Tyreek Hill,” Waddle comes closest regarding movement. Many players are agile and fast with the ball, but they’re more like point guards. On the other hand, Waddle is like Steph Curry: it’s tough to cover him whether he has the ball or is running routes because his fluidity and explosiveness are multifaceted.
8) DJ Turner II, Cincinnati Bengals, Cornerback
DJ Turner II clocked the fastest 40-yard dash at the 2023 Combine with a 4.26-second run, tying for the fifth-fastest time in league history. His explosive speed helped him climb into the draft’s second round, where the Cincinnati Bengals picked him.
Turner must compete with fellow former Michigan DB Dax Hill for the starting cornerback position opposite Cam Taylor-Britt. His speed and recovery skills will be crucial in making his case for the CB2 spot.
7) Riq Woolen, Seattle Seahawks, Cornerback
Length is often an advantage for defensive backs, but excessive length can make it almost impossible to be an adequate coverage defender in the NFL. Riq Woolen, however, defies this norm. Athletically, he seems almost too good to be true. His 4.26 40-yard dash ties for the fifth-fastest time ever recorded at the NFL Combine, and his 40-yard interception put him among the fastest speeds of the 2022 NFL season.
6) KaVontae Turpin, Dallas Cowboys, Wide Receiver
KaVontae Turpin’s blazing speed earned him the USFL MVP award in 2022 and a spot on the Dallas Cowboys roster. While he mainly serves as a return specialist for Dallas, Turpin has also contributed on offense. In Week 14 of last season against the Philadelphia Eagles, Turpin took a handoff from Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and turned it into a 22-yard gain, reaching the league’s fifth-highest speed of the year at 21.91 mph.
Turpin might be small, weighing only 153 pounds, but that hasn’t stopped him. Although his size might raise concerns about contact balance or limit his receiving opportunities, he excels at dodging major hits on returns.
5) DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks, Wide Receiver
DK Metcalf is nearly the most unstoppable force in football. It’s mind-blowing that he clocked a 4.33 40-yard dash at 230 pounds. Even more unbelievable is his 1.45-second 10-yard split, which ties for the seventh-best in NFL Combine history.
In 2021, he made headlines by chasing down Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker at 22.64 mph to prevent a pick-six after an interception. Last year, Metcalf reached 22.23 mph on a 73-yard touchdown catch, making it the fastest speed recorded in the league in 2023.
4) Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins, Running Back
In 2020, Raheem Mostert topped the speed charts in Next Gen Stats, clocking 23.09 miles per hour in Week 2, just a week after hitting 22.73 mph. Both plays ended in touchdowns of over 75 yards.
Mostert spent his first two seasons bouncing between teams before finding his groove in Kyle Shanahan’s wide-zone rushing offense. Although injuries plagued his time with the San Francisco 49ers, he consistently averaged more than five yards per carry. The only thing holding Mostert back from a higher spot on this list is his age—at 31, he’s likely lost some of the burst he had in 2020.
Still, he hit 21.62 mph on a 43-yard rushing touchdown in Week 2 of 2023. That same year, Mostert earned his first Pro Bowl selection after rushing for 1,012 yards and tying for the league lead with 21 total touchdowns.
3) De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins, Running Back
Dolphins HC McDaniel and GM Chris Grier have gone all-in on speed, and it’s paying off big time. Miami’s offense is electric, and De’Von Achane’s efficiency has been phenomenal.
Despite dealing with injuries during his 2023 rookie season, Achane still outpaced the entire league with an incredible 7.8 yards per attempt. No other player with at least 100 rushing attempts came close, with the next-best averaging only 5.5 yards per carry.
The Texas A&M alum also recorded two of the top six speeds for a ball carrier in 2023. He clocked an official 4.32 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and had impressive times in college with a 10.14-second 100-meter dash and a 20.2-second 200-meter dash.
2) Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs, Wide Receiver
Tyreek Hill takes the top spot due to his proven game speed, but Xavier Worthy could soon challenge him if he excels in his rookie season with Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Everyone knew Worthy had elite speed, but he truly stunned the crowd at the 2024 NFL Combine, breaking the NFL record with a 4.21-second 40-yard dash. This feat surpassed the previous record of 4.22 seconds, set by John Ross in 2017.
While Ross didn’t live up to the hype after entering the league, that doesn’t mean Worthy will follow the same path. With Andy Reid crafting plays that utilize his speed and Mahomes delivering the ball, Worthy could be in the running for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
1) Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins, Wide Receiver
It’s no shocker that Tyreek Hill tops the list of fastest players in the NFL. The Miami Dolphins have a clear love for pure speed, which made their 2022 trade for Hill a perfect fit. Although he clocked a “mere” 4.29 seconds in the 40-yard dash before joining the NFL, Hill somehow manages to move even faster on the field.
Back in his rookie year, 2016, Hill recorded the fastest speed ever in the NFL’s Next Gen Stats database, hitting an incredible 23.24 miles per hour on a kick return. Fast forward to 2023, and he ranked third, seventh, and ninth for the fastest times by any player in the league, surpassing 21.5 mph on four separate occasions.
When you combine Hill’s blazing speed with Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel’s offensive schemes, you get one of the NFL’s elite wide receivers. Hill led the league with 1,799 receiving yards and finished second in receptions with 119 last season despite running only the 46th-most routes among wide receivers. His efficiency was off the charts, with a jaw-dropping 3.85 yards per route run, setting a new modern record.
