Parris Campbell was the fastest NFL player in 2022 based on the fastest ball carrier metric by Next Gen Stats, reaching a season-leading 22.11 mph on a 26-yard rush for the Indianapolis Colts. Kenneth Walker finished second at 22.09 mph, Breece Hall ranked third at 21.87 mph and eight of the 10 fastest plays resulted in touchdowns.
This ranking measures the highest speed reached while a player possessed the football during a regular-season play. It is based on NFL Next Gen Stats tracking, not 40-yard dash times, and it includes rushing attempts, receptions, returns and interception returns. For broader historical context, compare these results with the fastest NFL players ever.
Table of Contents
Fastest NFL Players in 2022: Key Facts
- Fastest ball carrier: Parris Campbell, 22.11 mph.
- Closest race for No. 1: Campbell led Kenneth Walker by only 0.02 mph.
- Fastest rookie: Kenneth Walker, 22.09 mph.
- Fastest running back: Kenneth Walker, 22.09 mph.
- Top-10 cutoff: Tariq Woolen ranked 10th at 21.58 mph.
- Official table scope: The complete Next Gen Stats table contains 20 plays by 20 players.
How the 2022 NFL Ball-Carrier Speed Ranking Works
This is an objective ranking of the highest ball-carrier speeds recorded by NFL Next Gen Stats during the 2022 regular season. Preseason and postseason plays are excluded. The individual analysis counts down the top 10, while the complete table near the bottom includes all 20 plays displayed on the official leaderboard.
Every play is ranked separately, although no player appears more than once in this particular top 20. Next Gen Stats officially places DeSean Jackson fourth and Christian Watson fifth even though both display as 21.72 mph. It also ranks Jaylen Waddle sixth and Dalvin Cook seventh at a displayed 21.68 mph, so this article follows the published order instead of creating shared ranks.
Top speed is useful, but it does not settle every football argument. Longer plays provide more room to accelerate, while running backs often have to clear traffic before reaching open field. This list captures the highest gear each player reached with the ball, not who had the quickest first step, the fastest 40-yard dash or the best overall season.
Fastest NFL Ball Carriers of the 2022 Season
10. Tariq Woolen: 21.58 mph
Team: Seattle Seahawks; Play: 40-yard interception return touchdown against the Detroit Lions in Week 4.
Woolen intercepted Jared Goff and accelerated through the return lane to reach 21.58 mph on his first NFL touchdown. He was the only defensive player inside the top 10, which made his ball-carrier speed a perfect match for the rare recovery speed he showed in coverage.
9. Devin Duvernay: 21.60 mph
Team: Baltimore Ravens; Play: 103-yard kickoff return touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2.
Duvernay took the kickoff from deep in his own end zone and ran through Miami’s coverage for a 103-yard score. He had more distance to accelerate than anyone else in the top 10 and reached 21.60 mph before finishing the return.
8. Travis Etienne: 21.62 mph
Team: Jacksonville Jaguars; Play: 62-yard rushing touchdown against the Houston Texans in Week 17.
Etienne found the crease and separated from Houston’s pursuit for a 62-yard touchdown. His 21.62 mph top speed added another home-run play to a season in which his quick cuts and acceleration became central to Jacksonville’s offense.
7. Dalvin Cook: 21.68 mph
Team: Minnesota Vikings; Play: 81-yard rushing touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in Week 10.
Cook broke through the line and turned Minnesota’s comeback into a one-score game with an 81-yard touchdown. Next Gen Stats officially ranks his play seventh, one spot behind Waddle despite both displaying as 21.68 mph.
6. Jaylen Waddle: 21.68 mph
Team: Miami Dolphins; Play: 84-yard touchdown reception against the Green Bay Packers in Week 16.
Waddle caught the ball in stride over the middle and erased Green Bay’s angles on the way to the end zone. His 84-yard score was the longest offensive play inside the top 10 and the only receiving touchdown among the top six.
5. Christian Watson: 21.72 mph
Team: Green Bay Packers; Play: 46-yard rushing touchdown against the Chicago Bears in Week 13.
Watson took the designed touch around the edge and used his long stride to reach 21.72 mph. His speed was especially impressive at 6-foot-4, giving Green Bay a receiver who could threaten defenses vertically or score on a handoff.
4. DeSean Jackson: 21.72 mph
Team: Baltimore Ravens; Play: 62-yard reception against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 12.
Jackson was 35 years old when he reached 21.72 mph on the 62-yard catch. Next Gen Stats officially lists his play fourth, and the number was a final reminder that one of the defining deep threats of his generation could still outrun an NFL secondary late in his career.
3. Breece Hall: 21.87 mph
Team: New York Jets; Play: 62-yard rushing touchdown against the Denver Broncos in Week 7.
Hall followed the blocking to the left edge and hit 21.87 mph on the only touchdown of the game. The rookie recorded the third-fastest ball-carrier speed of the season before a knee injury ended his promising debut campaign later that afternoon.
2. Kenneth Walker: 22.09 mph
Team: Seattle Seahawks; Play: 74-yard rushing touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 7.
Walker bounced the run outside and accelerated down the sideline for a 74-yard touchdown. His 22.09 mph top speed was the fastest by a running back in 2022 and gave Seattle two rookies inside the top 10 when paired with Woolen.
1. Parris Campbell: 22.11 mph
Team: Indianapolis Colts; Play: 26-yard rush against the Houston Texans in Week 18.
Campbell took the end-around, turned the corner and reached 22.11 mph despite gaining only 26 yards. It was the shortest play inside the top 10, but he still produced the fastest speed by an NFL ball carrier during the 2022 regular season.
Only 0.02 mph separated Campbell from Walker, making this one of the narrowest margins possible on a leaderboard displayed to two decimal places. Walker had the longer touchdown, but Campbell reached a slightly higher top gear in far less space.
What the 2022 Speed Leaderboard Reveals
- Only two plays reached at least 22 mph. Campbell and Walker were the only players to clear the threshold.
- The top two were separated by 0.02 mph. Campbell’s 22.11 narrowly beat Walker’s 22.09.
- Rookies claimed two of the top three spots. Walker ranked second and Hall ranked third.
- The top 10 included five wide receivers, four running backs and one defensive back. Speed came from several roles rather than one position group.
- Eight of the 10 fastest plays ended in touchdowns. Campbell’s rush and Jackson’s reception were the only exceptions.
- Baltimore and Seattle led the complete table. Each team produced three of the top 20 entries.
That variety is also why raw speed should complement football evaluation instead of replacing it. Campbell reached the highest number, Walker and Hall paired elite speed with vision and Jackson produced a remarkable late-career sprint. For a broader evaluation of production, durability and complete skill sets, see the best running backs in the NFL today.
Complete Top 20 Fastest NFL Ball Carriers of 2022
The official Next Gen Stats table contains 20 plays by 20 players. It includes the player’s position, top speed, week and play type. The published ranks are preserved where multiple plays display the same speed.
| RK | Player | Team | Pos | Speed (MPH) | Wk | Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parris Campbell | IND | WR | 22.11 | 18 | 26-yard rush |
| 2 | Kenneth Walker | SEA | RB | 22.09 | 7 | 74-yard rush TD |
| 3 | Breece Hall | NYJ | RB | 21.87 | 7 | 62-yard rush TD |
| 4 | DeSean Jackson | BAL | WR | 21.72 | 12 | 62-yard reception |
| 5 | Christian Watson | GB | WR | 21.72 | 13 | 46-yard rush TD |
| 6 | Jaylen Waddle | MIA | WR | 21.68 | 16 | 84-yard reception TD |
| 7 | Dalvin Cook | MIN | RB | 21.68 | 10 | 81-yard rush TD |
| 8 | Travis Etienne | JAX | RB | 21.62 | 17 | 62-yard rush TD |
| 9 | Devin Duvernay | BAL | WR | 21.60 | 2 | 103-yard kickoff return TD |
| 10 | Tariq Woolen | SEA | DB | 21.58 | 4 | 40-yard interception TD |
| 11 | Cobie Durant | LAR | CB | 21.50 | 16 | 85-yard interception TD |
| 12 | Rashod Bateman | BAL | WR | 21.48 | 2 | 75-yard reception TD |
| 13 | Chase Claypool | PIT | WR | 21.46 | 1 | 12-yard rush |
| 14 | Tutu Atwell | LAR | WR | 21.46 | 5 | 54-yard reception |
| 15 | Rashaad Penny | SEA | RB | 21.44 | 5 | 32-yard rush |
| 16 | Saquon Barkley | NYG | RB | 21.31 | 10 | 27-yard rush |
| 17 | Dallis Flowers | IND | CB | 21.29 | 12 | 89-yard kickoff return |
| 18 | Jalen Reagor | MIN | WR | 21.25 | 6 | 25-yard punt return |
| 19 | Terry McLaurin | WAS | WR | 21.25 | 18 | 52-yard reception |
| 20 | Nyheim Hines | BUF | RB | 21.25 | 18 | 96-yard kickoff return TD |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the fastest NFL ball carrier in 2022?
Parris Campbell was the fastest NFL ball carrier of the 2022 regular season at 22.11 mph. He reached that speed on a 26-yard rush against the Houston Texans in Week 18.
Who was the fastest running back in 2022?
Kenneth Walker was the fastest running back on the leaderboard at 22.09 mph. He reached that speed on a 74-yard touchdown run against the Los Angeles Chargers.
How close was Kenneth Walker to finishing first?
Walker finished only 0.02 mph behind Campbell. Campbell reached 22.11 mph, while Walker reached 22.09 mph.
Why do tied displayed speeds have different ranks?
Next Gen Stats publishes each play at a separate sequential position even when the displayed speeds match. This article preserves that official order throughout the analysis and complete table.
Sources and Data Notes
Data scope: NFL regular-season plays from the 2022 season. Preseason and postseason plays are excluded. Each play is ranked by maximum ball-carrier speed. Displayed ranks follow the official Next Gen Stats leaderboard, including separate published positions for plays that display the same speed. Team names reflect the player’s team when the play occurred. Last reviewed: August 6, 2026.
- NFL Next Gen Stats 2022 fastest ball-carrier leaderboard.
- NFL coverage of Parris Campbell’s 26-yard rush and the 22.09 mph Kenneth Walker and 21.87 mph Breece Hall touchdowns.
Parris Campbell Won the 2022 Speed Race by 0.02 mph
Parris Campbell led the fastest NFL ball carriers of 2022 at 22.11 mph, beating Kenneth Walker at 22.09 and Breece Hall at 21.87. Campbell produced the season’s fastest single moment, while Walker and Hall made rookie running backs the defining position group at the top of the leaderboard.
The gap between Campbell and the final top-10 entry was only 0.53 mph. Even across the expanded top 20, only 0.86 mph separated Campbell from Jalen Reagor, Terry McLaurin and Nyheim Hines at a displayed 21.25 mph. At NFL speed, those margins can come down to one block, one pursuit angle or a few extra yards of open field.
Fastest NFL Players by Year
Compare the fastest NFL ball carriers from every season tracked in this series:
- Fastest NFL Players in 2025
- Fastest NFL Players in 2024
- Fastest NFL Players in 2023
- Fastest NFL Players in 2022 (current page)
- Fastest NFL Players in 2021
- Fastest NFL Players in 2020
- Fastest NFL Players in 2019
- Fastest NFL Players in 2018
