Who Is The Fastest Wide Receiver In The Nfl?

Whether you’re a die-hard football fan or just enjoy keeping up with the latest sports news, you’ve probably wondered who the fastest wide receiver in the NFL is. While there are a few players who could lay claim to this title, there’s one clear frontrunner: John Brown of the Arizona Cardinals.

Introduction

Receivers aren’t just tall anymore, they’re fast. In the NFL, being able to run a fast 40-yard dash is an important skill for wide receivers. A receiver’s speed can be the difference between getting open and being covered.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the 10 fastest wide receivers in the NFL. We’ll also compare their speeds to some of the other positions in the league.

A brief history of the wide receiver position

The wide receiver position has only been around for about a hundred years. It was created in response to the forward pass, which was legalized in 1906. The first wide receiver is generally considered to be Fred Gilbert, who played for the Los Angeles Rams in the 1940s.

However, the position really came into its own in the 1960s with the development of the West Coast offense. This style of play relied heavily on quick, short passes to receivers who could then run after the catch. Some of the most famous wide receivers from this era include Jerry Rice and Lynn Swann.

Today, the position is more important than ever. With the advent of spread offenses in college football, many NFL teams are using similar schemes. This means that receivers need to be able to not only catch the ball but also run with it after the catch. Some of the most successful receivers in recent years have been players like Julio Jones and Antonio Brown.

The evolution of the wide receiver

The wide receiver has come a long way since the early days of the National Football League. In the early days, most teams played with two wide receivers, usually split ends. The split ends lined up on the ends of the line of scrimmage, and their job was to run straight down the field and catch passes.

Over time, teams began to experiment with different ways to use their wide receivers. They began to line them up in different formations, and they began to throw them the ball in different ways. As a result, the position of wide receiver has evolved into one of the most important and complex positions in all of football.

Today, there are three main types of wide receivers: split end, flanker, and slot receiver. Each type of receiver has a different role on the team, and each type is used in a different way by the offense.

Split end: The split end is the traditional type of receiver. He lines up on the outside of the formation, at the end of the line of scrimmage. His job is to run straight downfield and catch passes. Split ends are usually tall and speedy players who can outrun defenders and make big plays downfield.

Flanker: The flanker is a hybrid receiver/running back who lines up behind the line of scrimmage, off to one side or another. He can be used as a runner or a receiver, but his primary job is to catch passes. Flankers are usually shifty players who have good hands and can make plays in traffic.

Slot receiver: The slot receiver is a relatively new position that has become increasingly important in recent years. He lines up between the split end and the flanker, in what is called “the slot”. His job is to catch passes over the middle of the field, often on short throws from the quarterback. Slot receivers are usually quick and agile players who can make plays in traffic and pick up yardage after catches

The importance of speed

In the game of football, speed is often the difference between making a big play and being left in the dust. Wide receivers are some of the fastest players on the field, and their speed can be the difference between catching a long touchdown pass or being tackled short of the goal line.

So, who is the fastest wide receiver in the NFL?

The answer may surprise you. According to NFL research, the fastest wide receiver in the league is Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Jackson was clocked at 22.05 miles per hour on a catch during a game against the New Orleans Saints in 2016.

That’s not to say that Jackson is always the fastest player on the field. In fact, there are a number of players who have been clocked at speeds even faster than Jackson. Among them are fellow wide receivers Tyreek Hill of the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills rookie Zay Jones.

So, while Jackson may be the fastest wide receiver in the NFL, there are a number of players who aren’t far behind him. Speed is an important part of being a successful wide receiver, but it’s not everything. Wide receivers also need to have good hands, be able to run good routes, and have the ability to make plays after they catch the ball.

The top 10 fastest wide receivers in the NFL

1. Tyreek Hill – Kansas City Chiefs – 4.29 seconds
2. John Ross – Cincinnati Bengals – 4.22 seconds
3. Jalen Reagor – Philadelphia Eagles – 4.47 seconds
4. Henry Ruggs III – Las Vegas Raiders – 4.27 seconds
5. Mecole Hardman – Kansas City Chiefs – 4.33 seconds
6. Marquise Brown – Baltimore Ravens – 4.34 seconds
7. Sammy Watkins – Kansas City Chiefs – 4.43 seconds
8. Robby Anderson – New York Jets – 4.36 seconds
9. Devonte Burnett – Miami Dolphins- 4.41 seconds
10 Phillip Dorsett II- New England Patriots- 4.33

The future of the wide receiver position

We often think of the wide receiver as a explosive athlete who can run short routes and catch the ball. However, the future of the position may be changing.

As the game of football has evolved, so has the role of the wide receiver. Many receivers are now being used as “jokers,” meaning they line up all over the formation and are used in a variety of ways. This allows for more creativity on offense and makes it more difficult for defenses to key in on one player.

Some receivers are even being used as running backs or quarterbacks in some “wildcat” formations. This trend is likely to continue as teams look for any edge they can get on offense.

One thing is certain: the role of the wide receiver is always changing and evolving. As the game adapts, so too must the players.