Who Is The Fastest RB In The NFL?

We all know that speed is key in the NFL. But who is the fastest running back in the league? We take a look at the data to find out.

Introduction

Today we are going to be discussing who the fastest running back is in the NFL. This is always a debatable topic because there are a lot of different variables that go into it. Some people will say that it is dependent on the player’s 40-yard dash time, while others will claim that game speed is a better indicator. There are also those who believe that a combination of both factors is what ultimately determines who the fastest player is.

The Case For Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley is one of the most exciting players in the NFL. He’s a big, physical back who can run over defenders and also has the speed to run away from them.

There have been some reports that Barkley might not be the fastest running back in the NFL, but those reports are based on his 40-yard dash time from the NFL Combine. Barkley wasn’t trying to run a fast time at the Combine, he was just trying to get a good time for scouts.

The truth is that Barkley is probably the fastest running back in the NFL. He’s certainly one of the most explosive players in the league, and he has the rare combination of size and speed that makes him a nightmare for defenses.

The Case For Alvin Kamara

Alvin Kamara is one of the most versatile and electric running backs in the NFL. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Kamara had a breakout rookie season, where he was named Offensive Rookie of the Year. In his career, Kamara has amassed 3,146 yards and 32 touchdowns on 582 carries, while also catching 213 passes for 1,715 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Kamara is known for his elusiveness and ability to make defenders miss in the open field. He is also a very dangerous threat out of the backfield as a receiver. Kamara has good speed and quickness, but what sets him apart is his exceptional vision and patience. He is always able to find the hole in the defense and make something out of nothing. Alvin Kamara is one of the best running backs in the NFL and it is not close.

The Case For Christian McCaffrey

In recent weeks, much has been made of the “fastest man in the NFL” title. Specifically, two players have staked their claim to the throne: Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey. Both players are incredibly fast, and both have displayed their speed on the football field. So, who is the fastest man in the NFL?

The answer, quite simply, is Christian McCaffrey.

There are a few different ways to measure speed, but the most common is the 40-yard dash. And when it comes to the 40-yard dash, McCaffrey is faster than Hill. In fact, McCaffrey’s time of 4.22 seconds is the fastest time ever recorded by a running back at the NFL Combine. Hill’s time of 4.24 seconds is good for second all-time among wide receivers.

Of course, speed is only one part of being a successful football player. Both Hill and McCaffrey are All-Pro caliber players who have excelled at the highest level of the sport. But when it comes to raw speed, Christian McCaffrey is the fastest man in the NFL.

The Case For Ezekiel Elliott

Ezekiel Elliott is the fastest RB in the NFL.

Ezekiel Elliott is a physical specimen. At 6’0” and 225 pounds, he has the size to run through arm tackles and the speed to outrun defensive backs to the end zone.

In his four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Elliott has proven to be one of the most productive running backs in the NFL, averaging over 1,000 rushing yards per season and scoring 40 total touchdowns. He was named First Team All-Pro in 2016 and 2018, and he was hailed as the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2016 after leading the Cowboys to a 13-3 record.

But what makes Elliott the fastest running back in the NFL is his combination of size, strength, and speed. He ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine, which was tied for the second-fastest time among all running backs. And he’s not just fast in a straight line—he also has quick feet and excellent agility.

The Case For Joe Mixon

Joe Mixon is one of the most controversial players in the NFL. He was involved in a major assault case while he was in college, which led to him being banned from the NFL combine. Despite this, he was still drafted in the 2nd round of the 2017 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Mixon has shown that he is a very talented player, and has even been compared to Le’Veon Bell. In his rookie season, he finished with 626 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns. He also caught 30 passes for 287 yards and 1 touchdown. Mixon averaged 4.5 yards per carry, which is very good for a rookie running back.

In 2018, Mixon took a big step forward and became one of the best running backs in the NFL. He finished the season with 1,168 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. He also caught 43 passes for 296 yards and 5 touchdowns. Mixon averaged 4.9 yards per carry, which is an outstanding number.

There have been many debates about who is the fastest player in the NFL. Joe Mixon seems to be forgotten about when these discussions take place. This is likely because of his off-field controversy, but there is no denying that he is one of the fastest players in the league.

The Case For Dalvin Cook

In 2017, Dalvin Cook was considered one of the most promising young running backs in the NFL. He was coming off a rookie season in which he’d racked up 1,465 total yards and 13 touchdowns, and he looked poised to build on that success in his second year.

Unfortunately, Cook’s sophomore campaign was cut short by a torn ACL, and he’s been battling injuries ever since. Nevertheless, when he’s been on the field, Cook has continued to impress with his rare combination of speed, quickness, and power.

In 2019, for example, Cook averaged a whopping 6.0 yards per carry while rushing for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns in just 12 games. He also caught 53 passes for 519 yards and another score. And despite missing four games due to injury, Cook still finished ninth among all running backs in total scrimmage yardage.

What’s more, Cook is one of the few running backs who has consistently shown the ability to break long runs. Since entering the league in 2017, he has 21 runs of 20 or more yards, which is tied for fifth-most among all running backs.

Perhaps most impressively, Cook has done all this while playing behind subpar offensive lines. In 2019, Football Outsiders ranked the Vikings’ offensive line 23rd in run-blocking efficiency. And yet Cook still managed to average an elite 4.8 yards per carry on non-screen plays (second among all running backs with at least 100 carries).

So yeah, Dalvin Cook is pretty darn fast.

The Case For Aaron Jones

In today’s NFL, having a running back who can not only rack up yards but also break off big plays is more important than ever. With that in mind, there’s no question that Aaron Jones of the Green Bay Packers is one of the league’s most dangerous running backs.

At just 25 years old, Jones is already one of the most productive running backs in the NFL. In 2019, he rushed for 1,084 yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging a whopping 5.5 yards per carry. He also chipped in 497 receiving yards and four touchdowns through the air.

But what really sets Jones apart is his speed and explosiveness. He has the ability to take any play to the house at any time, as evidenced by his league-leading nine runs of 40 or more yards over the last two seasons. In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, Jones is the NFL’s most efficient running back when it comes to big plays.

Jones’ speed was on full display at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, where he ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash. That time makes him the fastest running back in Packers history and puts him in elite company among current NFL backs.

The Case For Josh Jacobs

Josh Jacobs is one of the most electric young runners in the NFL, and he has the stats to back it up. In his rookie season, Jacobs rushed for 1,150 yards and 7 touchdowns, averaging a stellar 5.3 yards per carry. He also caught 27 passes for 279 yards, proving that he is a dual-threat weapon out of the backfield.

What makes Jacobs so special is his combination of speed and power. He runs with a rare combination of explosiveness and strength, making him tough to bring down in the open field. In fact, Jacobs forced a whopping 61 missed tackles last season, according to Pro Football Focus. That was the 3rd most in the NFL among running backs.

Conclusion

After reviewing all of the data, it is clear that Chris Johnson is the fastest running back in the NFL. He has the fastest time in the 40 yard dash, and he has shown that he can maintain his speed over long distances. While other running backs may be faster in short bursts, Johnson has proven that he can sustain his speed over long periods of time, making him the fastest running back in the NFL.