DK Metcalf was the fastest NFL player in 2023 based on the fastest ball carrier metric by Next Gen Stats, reaching a season-leading 22.23 mph on a 73-yard touchdown reception for the Seattle Seahawks. Chase Brown finished second at 22.05 mph, Tyreek Hill ranked third at 22.01 mph and Miami Dolphins players produced six of the 10 fastest plays.
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 2023: Key Facts
- Fastest ball carrier: DK Metcalf, 22.23 mph.
- Most top-20 entries: Tyreek Hill, with four.
- Fastest rookie: Chase Brown, 22.05 mph.
- Fastest running back: Chase Brown, 22.05 mph.
- Top-10 cutoff: Raheem Mostert ranked 10th at 21.62 mph.
- Official table scope: The complete Next Gen Stats table contains 20 plays by 14 players.
How the 2023 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 2023 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 treated as its own entry, which is why Hill appears four times in the top 20, De’Von Achane appears three times and George Pickens appears twice. Next Gen Stats officially ranks Derrick Henry seventh and Hill eighth even though both display as 21.68 mph, so this ranking follows the published order instead of creating a shared rank.
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 2023 Season
10. Raheem Mostert: 21.62 mph
Team: Miami Dolphins; Play: 43-yard rushing touchdown against the New England Patriots in Week 2.
Mostert found the edge and ran away from New England’s pursuit to reach 21.62 mph. He was already 31 years old, but the touchdown showed that the long speed behind his breakout with San Francisco had not disappeared.
9. Tyreek Hill: 21.66 mph
Team: Miami Dolphins; Play: 47-yard reception against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1.
Hill opened the season by turning another catch into an instant field-flipping gain. He reached 21.66 mph on the 47-yard reception and finished the game with 215 receiving yards, setting the tone for a season filled with explosive plays.
8. Tyreek Hill: 21.68 mph
Team: Miami Dolphins; Play: 78-yard touchdown reception against the Washington Commanders in Week 13.
Hill got behind Washington’s secondary and had enough space to reach 21.68 mph on the way to the end zone. It was his second top-10 entry and his third of four appearances in the complete top 20.
7. Derrick Henry: 21.68 mph
Team: Tennessee Titans; Play: 69-yard rush against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 18.
Henry matched Hill at a displayed 21.68 mph, but Next Gen Stats officially lists his play seventh. The 69-yard run carried Tennessee to Jacksonville’s four-yard line and showed how dangerous Henry remained once his power created a path into the open field.
6. De’Von Achane: 21.76 mph
Team: Miami Dolphins; Play: 76-yard rushing touchdown against the New York Giants in Week 5.
Achane hit the crease without wasting a step and accelerated to 21.76 mph on the 76-yard score. It was his second top-six entry in three games, confirming that his track speed translated immediately to NFL competition.
5. KaVontae Turpin: 21.91 mph
Team: Dallas Cowboys; Play: 22-yard rush against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14.
Turpin did not need a long runway to reach 21.91 mph. His speed came on a 22-yard offensive touch, making it the shortest non-penalty play inside the top 20 and a strong example of how quickly he can reach his highest gear.
4. De’Von Achane: 21.93 mph
Team: Miami Dolphins; Play: 67-yard rushing touchdown against the Denver Broncos in Week 3.
Achane burst through Denver’s defense for a 67-yard touchdown during Miami’s 70-point performance. The rookie reached 21.93 mph and briefly owned the fastest ball-carrier speed of the season before two players eventually broke 22 mph.
3. Tyreek Hill: 22.01 mph
Team: Miami Dolphins; Play: 64-yard reception against the New York Giants in Week 5.
Hill crossed 22 mph on a 64-yard catch and run, reclaiming the league lead immediately after Achane had reached 21.76 mph earlier in the game. Hill was the only player to place three separate plays inside the top nine.
2. Chase Brown: 22.05 mph
Team: Cincinnati Bengals; Play: 54-yard touchdown reception against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 14.
Brown caught a screen, followed his blocks and exploded through the open lane for his first NFL touchdown. His 22.05 mph top speed was the fastest by a running back in 2023 and gave the rookie the second-fastest ball-carrier play of the season.
1. DK Metcalf: 22.23 mph
Team: Seattle Seahawks; Play: 73-yard touchdown reception against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13.
Metcalf caught the ball in stride, split the pursuit and reached 22.23 mph on the way to the end zone. It was the fastest speed by an NFL ball carrier during the 2023 regular season and the fastest recorded since Raheem Mostert reached 23.09 mph in Week 2 of 2020.
The number stands out even more because Metcalf is much larger than most players on the leaderboard. Hill and Achane built multiple entries through sudden acceleration, but Metcalf paired the season’s highest speed with rare power-receiver size.
What the 2023 Speed Leaderboard Reveals
- Three plays reached at least 22 mph. Metcalf, Brown and Hill were the only players to clear the threshold.
- Miami dominated the leaderboard. Dolphins players produced six of the top 10 entries and eight of the complete top 20.
- Running backs and wide receivers split the top 10. Each position produced five entries.
- Hill was the repeat-speed leader. He appeared four times in the top 20, including three times inside the top nine.
- The entire top 10 fit within 0.61 mph. Metcalf’s 22.23 led Mostert at 21.62, showing how small the margins are among NFL playmakers in open space.
- The complete top 20 included a defensive player. Eagles safety Sydney Brown reached 21.52 mph on a 99-yard interception return touchdown.
That mix is also why raw speed should complement football evaluation instead of replacing it. Metcalf reached the highest number, Hill produced elite speed repeatedly and Brown, Achane, Henry and Mostert had to process blocking before accelerating. For a broader evaluation of route running, production and complete skill sets, see the best wide receivers in the NFL today.
Complete Top 20 Fastest NFL Ball Carriers of 2023
The official Next Gen Stats table contains 20 plays by 14 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 | DK Metcalf | SEA | WR | 22.23 | 13 | 73-yard reception TD |
| 2 | Chase Brown | CIN | RB | 22.05 | 14 | 54-yard reception TD |
| 3 | Tyreek Hill | MIA | WR | 22.01 | 5 | 64-yard reception |
| 4 | De’Von Achane | MIA | RB | 21.93 | 3 | 67-yard rush TD |
| 5 | KaVontae Turpin | DAL | WR | 21.91 | 14 | 22-yard rush |
| 6 | De’Von Achane | MIA | RB | 21.76 | 5 | 76-yard rush TD |
| 7 | Derrick Henry | TEN | RB | 21.68 | 18 | 69-yard rush |
| 8 | Tyreek Hill | MIA | WR | 21.68 | 13 | 78-yard reception TD |
| 9 | Tyreek Hill | MIA | WR | 21.66 | 1 | 47-yard reception |
| 10 | Raheem Mostert | MIA | RB | 21.62 | 2 | 43-yard rush TD |
| 11 | Kenneth Walker | SEA | RB | 21.56 | 8 | 45-yard rush |
| 12 | Ja’Marr Chase | CIN | WR | 21.54 | 5 | 63-yard reception TD |
| 13 | George Pickens | PIT | WR | 21.54 | 16 | 86-yard reception TD |
| 14 | Calvin Ridley | JAX | WR | 21.52 | 18 | 59-yard reception TD |
| 15 | Tyreek Hill | MIA | WR | 21.52 | 1 | 35-yard reception TD |
| 16 | Sydney Brown | PHI | SS | 21.52 | 17 | 99-yard interception TD |
| 17 | Jayden Reed | GB | WR | 21.52 | 11 | 32-yard rush TD |
| 18 | De’Von Achane | MIA | RB | 21.50 | 3 | 3-yard rush* |
| 19 | George Pickens | PIT | WR | 21.50 | 16 | 66-yard reception TD |
| 20 | Breece Hall | NYJ | RB | 21.50 | 5 | 72-yard rush TD |
* Penalty on the play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the fastest NFL ball carrier in 2023?
DK Metcalf was the fastest NFL ball carrier of the 2023 regular season at 22.23 mph. He reached that speed on a 73-yard touchdown reception against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13.
Why do some players appear multiple times?
This is a play-based leaderboard rather than a unique-player ranking. Hill, Achane and Pickens each recorded multiple plays that qualified for the top 20.
Who was the fastest running back in 2023?
Chase Brown was the fastest running back on the leaderboard at 22.05 mph. He reached that speed on a 54-yard touchdown reception against the Indianapolis Colts.
How many Dolphins plays made the top 20?
Miami produced eight of the 20 entries. Hill appeared four times, Achane appeared three times and Mostert appeared once.
Sources and Data Notes
Data scope: NFL regular-season plays from the 2023 season. Preseason and postseason plays are excluded. Each play is ranked by maximum ball-carrier speed, and repeat entries are allowed. 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 2023 fastest ball-carrier leaderboard.
- NFL reports on DK Metcalf’s 22.23 mph touchdown, Chase Brown’s 22.05 mph touchdown and Tyreek Hill’s 22.01 mph reception.
DK Metcalf Had the Highest Speed, but Miami Owned the Leaderboard
DK Metcalf led the fastest NFL ball carriers of 2023 at 22.23 mph, beating Chase Brown at 22.05 and Tyreek Hill at 22.01. Metcalf produced the season’s fastest single moment, while Miami’s eight appearances in the top 20 made the Dolphins the defining team on the leaderboard.
The gap between Metcalf and the final top-10 entry was only 0.61 mph. Even across the expanded top 20, only 0.73 mph separated Metcalf from the three plays tied at a displayed 21.50 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 (current page)
- Fastest NFL Players in 2022
- Fastest NFL Players in 2021
- Fastest NFL Players in 2020
- Fastest NFL Players in 2019
- Fastest NFL Players in 2018
