Jonathan Taylor has a strong case for being the fastest player in the NFL

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is the best running back in the NFL but he may also be the fastest player in the league.

Last season, with the Indianapolis Colts, Jonathan Taylor established that he was a special player at the NFL level. His rookie season showed that he was good, but year two showed that he was elite.

During the 2021 season, Jonathan Taylor led the league in rushing yards with 1,811 yards and rushing touchdowns with 18. Those numbers earned him his first spot on a Pro Bowl roster and an All-Pro team.

That production also earned Taylor the title of best running back in the NFL, though, some Tennessee Titans fans may dispute that on behalf of Derrick Henry.

Last season also may have given Jonathan Taylor another title: fastest man in the NFL. While people know Taylor is fast, his name usually isn’t in that discussion. However, some stats from last season shows that his name should be in the conversation.

Jonathan Taylor has three of the top-five fastest runs

According to Next Gen Stats, of all the top speeds that ball carriers reached last year, Taylor had three of the top five speeds, including the fastest-overall mark at 22.13 miles per hour.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone familiar with Taylor’s past. Prior to becoming the best running back in the NFL, Jonathan Taylor was a track star.

During his time at Salem High School in New Jersey, Taylor was a two-time state champion in the 100-meter dash with a personal record of 10.49 seconds. Taylor also had brief participation in Wisconsin’s track program.

At the NFL combine, the 5-foot-10, 226-pound running back ran a 4.39 40-yard dash. That was the fastest time of any running back that year and the seventh-fastest overall time.

There’s no way to really determine who the fastest player in the league is. They’ll never line up for a serious race and all of their speed is utilized in different ways on the field.

However, with the ball in his hands in the open field, Jonathan Taylor was the fastest player in the NFL last season. He’ll defend his throne next year as he breaks away for more touchdowns.

Predicting the final standings for the AFC South

With the NFL schedule released, let’s look at where the Indianapolis Colts will finish in the division with the rest of the AFC South.