- Jonathan Taylor had three of the five fastest plays in 2021.
- The Colts running back has NFL odds to win MVP at +5000.
Breakaway speed can be the difference between a 5-yard run and a 70-yard touchdown. And explosive plays can be the difference for NFL betting odds in most rushing yards, receiving yards or even MVP.
Jonathan Taylor, for example, had three of the fastest five plays as a ball carrier in the NFL in 2021, per Next Gen Stats. The Colts running back led the league in rushing yards with 1,811, 552 more than anyone else, and has the best NFL betting odds to win MVP among non-quarterbacks at +5000 for 2022.
Unranked ➡️ No. 5 in the #NFLTop100
Jonathan Taylor put the league on notice last season 😤
(via @NFL) | @Colts pic.twitter.com/BVOhqANkrj
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) August 29, 2022
Here’s a look at the fastest plays for those with the ball in their hands in the NFL last season.
NFL Speed
| Player | Speed (mph) |
| Jonathan Taylor | 22.13 |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling | 22.09 |
| Patrick Surtain | 22.07 |
| Jonathan Taylor | 22.05 |
| Jonathan Taylor | 21.83 |
| Derrick Henry | 21.8 |
| Jaylen Waddle | 21.8 |
| Henry Ruggs | 21.78 |
| Devin Duvernay | 21.76 |
| Ja'Marr Chase | 21.74 |
| Jalen Reagor | 21.74 |
| Trenton Cannon | 21.7 |
| Tavierre Thomas | 21.68 |
| Quez Watkins | 21.62 |
| Jamal Agnew | 21.62 |
| Melvin Gordon | 21.52 |
| Anthony Brown | 21.52 |
| Henry Ruggs | 21.42 |
| Tyreek Hill | 21.42 |
| D.J. Moore | 21.38 |
Fastest NFL Plays
Jonathan Taylor recorded the fastest play in the NFL for a ball carrier at 22.13 miles per hour with a 67-yard rushing touchdown in Week 15. The score helped cement a win over the Patriots.
The former Wisconsin running back, who is entering his third season, ended 2021 with three of the top five fastest runs in the NFL. He also had a 78-yard rushing touchdown where he reached 22.05 mph and a 32-yard rush that was called back due to a penalty at 21.83 mph.
Jonathan Taylor reached a top speed of 22.13 mph on his 67-yard game-clinching TD run, the fastest speed by a ball-carrier this season.
Taylor is now responsible for three of the top 5 fastest plays with the football this season.#NEvsIND | #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/RaBQngtWF6
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 19, 2021
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, a Packers receiver in 2021 who’s now with the Chiefs, went 22.09 mph on a 75-yard touchdown catch. Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain clocked the third-fastest speed at 22.07 mph on a 70-yard interception returned for a touchdown.
For comparison, the New York Times reported in 2020 Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt had recorded the fastest known running speed at 27.5 miles per hour. But in the heat of an NFL game, these numbers are still impressive.
Among the players who logged the six fastest plays, four were from running backs. The average weight of those six is 222 pounds. Titans running back Derrick Henry, at 247 pounds, reached 21.8 mph on a 76-yard rushing touchdown.
DERRICK HENRY WAS GONE 🏃♂️💨
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/tq4Y0lYr3M
— ESPN (@espn) October 19, 2021
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