Fastest 2026 Rookies: Midseason Check

The Scoreboard Through Week 6

The pattern is hard to miss. The two fastest players in the class have combined for one catch, while the slowest player on this list has more receptions than every one of them. That's not an argument that speed doesn't matter. It's a reminder of everything a 40 time leaves out.

The Speedsters, One by One

Brenen Thompson — 4.26, Chargers

The fastest man at the combine fell to the fourth round, a sign teams viewed him as a speed specialist rather than a complete receiver. He has been listed as a punt returner, missed practice time with an injury and was inactive in Week 3. His only catch so far went for 13 yards against the Raiders. The Chargers are 0-6, so opportunities may open up, but the production hasn't arrived yet.

Lorenzo Styles Jr. — 4.27, Saints

Styles ran the fastest 40 by a safety in at least two decades, then hurt his calf in the second preseason game. New Orleans moved him to injured reserve on September 1, sidelining him for at least the first four games. Raw speed can't show up if a player isn't on the field.

Zavion Thomas — 4.28, Bears

Thomas showed exactly what elite speed can do in the right moment: a 97-yard touchdown on Chicago's first offensive play of the preseason finale. In the regular season he has been used mostly as a returner and a gadget option. In the Week 6 win at Atlanta he had four kickoff returns for 85 yards and caught all three of his targets for 25 yards on just 10 offensive snaps. Special teams is often where a pure speed rookie earns his first role.

Mike Washington Jr. — 4.33, Raiders

Washington has been the most consistent of the true speedsters, even as Ashton Jeanty's backup. He has 168 yards on 34 carries, a healthy 4.9 per attempt, and broke a 36-yard touchdown run in a win over the Saints. He led the Raiders in rushing in Week 6 with 43 yards on nine carries. His 4.33 came at 223 pounds, which works out to a speed score near 127, the kind of size-speed profile that tends to translate for running backs. Our Jeanty vs. Washington comparison breaks down how the two backs tested.

Jeremiyah Love — 4.36, Cardinals

The highest-drafted player on this list has had the roughest start. Arizona took Love third overall, but after a preseason ankle injury, a left ankle problem has lingered into the regular season. He had his best game in Week 3 against San Francisco with 89 rushing yards, then managed 22 yards on 12 carries against Detroit and was ruled out of Arizona's Week 6 upset of the Rams. He's averaging 3.7 yards per carry. For a running back, an ankle injury directly hits the cutting and acceleration that a 40 time is supposed to represent.

Kenyon Sadiq — 4.39, Jets

The fastest tight end in combine history had a breakout Week 3 against Detroit with 7 catches for 105 yards. Since then he has 3 catches for 15 yards on 10 targets over three games, including a concussion along the way. Tight end is one of the slowest-developing positions for rookies, because blocking and route timing matter as much as speed.

What the 40 Doesn't Measure

Six weeks of data line up with what coaches see every year. A 40-yard dash is a straight-line sprint with no pads, no opponent and no decision to make. NFL production depends on several things the drill can't capture:

• Role and opportunity. A fourth-round receiver behind established starters gets a handful of snaps. A second-round pick thrust into a starting job by injuries, like Bernard, gets 12 targets in a game.
• Availability. Two of the five fastest players on this list have missed significant time. Top-end speed puts heavy stress on calves, hamstrings and ankles, and a rookie who can't practice can't earn trust.
• Short-area quickness. Most plays are decided in the first 10 yards and at the break of a route. Three-cone and shuttle times often say more about a slot receiver or a running back's cutting ability than the full 40.
• Mass behind the speed. The players translating best tend to combine speed with size. Washington's speed score near 127 and Kenneth Walker III's 4.38 at 211 pounds are examples of speed that holds up through contact.

Frequently Asked Questions