The NFL's Fastest Offensive Playmakers Heading into 2015 Season

The NFL's Fastest Offensive Playmakers Heading into 2015 Season By Curt Popejoy May 29, 2015 Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports There are few things that NFL fans are more enamored with than the speed of an offensive playmaker. A player that can break off big gains, take the top off of a defense and eat up huge chunks of yards is where the NFL is right now.As the 2015 season is upon us, it is a great opportunity to take a look at which players are going to be those playmakers. Now, understand before we start on this list that this isn’t all about the stopwatch. The days of running back Chris Johnson living off the reputation of that 4.24-second 40-yard dash are long gone. In the same vein, the 4.26 that running back Dri Archer achieved last year hasn’t meant a thing in the NFL.So who are the guys to watch for 2015 that combine speed and playmaking ability? Read on and find out. And oh, I’m sure I might have missed a guy or two, so be sure to leave that in the comments below.All player data courtesy of NFL.com.10. Martavis Bryant, WR Pittsburgh SteelersCharles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports As I worked through this list, I came to realize that the 2014 wide receiver class was truly special. Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant is one of four wide receivers from that class to make this list. Bryant was a late starter during the season, but it didn’t take him long to make his presence felt.Although he only had 26 receptions in limited action, eight of those went for more than 20 yards, and he finished the season with a 21.1-yard average. Bryant is a glider, just effortless in his acceleration and overwhelming size. He already has sub-4.4 speed, but paired with that long frame, he can pull away from any defender.9. Mike Evans, WR Tampa Bay BuccaneersKim Klement-USA TODAY Sports This one might seem a bit surprising, but if you got to see Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans play, you get a better understanding of what his potential really is. The second-year receiver finished the season with 68 receptions, and a staggering 20 of those went for more than 20 yards. This is rarefied air typically saved for pure speedsters, often on the smallish side.Evans doesn’t have the deep speed of Bryant, but he still finds ways to get open. At 6’5” and 231 pounds, he is impossible to jam at the line of scrimmage. Once he is down the field, Evans has the power to go up and get the football at its high point, and that is typically well downfield. Look for rookie quarterback Jameis Winston to go to him early and often on those deep routes.8. John Brown, WR Arizona CardinalsMark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Of all the players on this list, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown might have had the worst statistical season of the group. He suffered through miserable quarterback play, as well as being relegated to a slot receiver role. However, Brown flashed that 4.34 speed on multiple occasions in 2014.If the Cardinals offense can find a run game in 2015, look for Brown to build on his 48 receptions from last season, and seriously add to that 14.5 yards per catch. He is just too fast and too dynamic not to be included in the offense to a greater degree.7. DeSean Jackson, WR Washington RedskinsMark Tenally/Associated Press No one should be shocked that Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson makes this list. In 2014, he had 56 receptions for an average of 20.9 yards per catch. The next closest by any receiver with at least 50 catches only averaged 16.5 yards per catch.The key to Jackson’s game is he can beat a defender deep and get it all in a chunk, or he can take a short throw and turn it into a long gain. Jackson is one of those players with stopwatch speed that shows up well in pads. In 2014, Jackson had a remarkable 13 receptions that went for more than 40 yards.6. Joseph Randle, RB Dallas CowboysTim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports Our first running back shows up on the list at No. 6 with the Dallas Cowboys' Joseph Randle. In limited snaps, the former Oklahoma State star averaged 6.7 yards per carry. While that is impressive, having Randle this high is as much a projection as anything else. The Cowboys didn’t truly address the running back position, so there’s a real chance Randle gets the lion’s share of the touches in 2015.With that Dallas offensive line, he might be 6.7 yards downfield before a defender even lays a hand on him. His speed on the field is evident, and now he could have the reps to really show it off. He might not have the same yards per carry average but should easily build on his two carries of 40 yards or more.5. Odell Beckham Jr., WR New York GiantsRobert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports The most exciting player in all of the NFL last year was New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. It seemed that you couldn’t turn on ESPN without seeing one of his miraculous catches. OBJ, as he is called, finished his season with 91 catches for 1,305 yards in only 11 starts. This is a modest 14.3 yards per reception, but this kid has just scratched the surface.Beckham makes this list because most of his best catches were well down the field. It is one thing for a player to make the occasional big catch, but he was on the receiving end of multiple huge catches deep. Once this part of his game becomes more routine, and the Giants can establish a rushing game, his average is going to go through the roof.4. Jamaal Charles, RB Kansas City ChiefsDenny Medley-USA TODAY Sports From here on out there shouldn’t be many big surprises. You could swap out any of these last four players in any spot and there’d be little debate. Checking in at No. 4 we have Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles. In 2014, he rushed for 1,033 yards on only 206 carries. This was a low over the past three seasons, but he still managed 5.0 yards per carry.What makes Charles special is he really is one of those guys that can take any carry the distance. He only had six carries of more than 20 yards in 2014. However, this was as much a function of an anemic offense as anything. When a defense has no reason to respect the pass, they can stack the run. That’s what made what Charles did more impressive. With the additions on offense, there should be more creases for Charles to exploit for long runs in 2015.3. Demaryius Thomas, WR Denver BroncosIsaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports When you watch Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas play, you tend to forget just how fast he is. At 6’3” and 229 pounds, it is easy to forget he also has sub-4.4 speed. That is until you put on the film. Thomas only averaged 14.6 yards per catch, but he will still be fastest receiver on his team. Even faster than teammate Emmanuel Sanders, who garnered most of the highlights for deep catches.One number that really stands out for Thomas is 25. That’s how many catches he had that went more than 20 yards. Six of those went for 40 yards or more. Many of those catches came on slants or screens where you got to see those wheels. Thomas gets up to full speed in just a few steps and can just run through arm tackles as easily as running away from defenders.2. DeMarco Murray, RB Philadelphia EaglesBrad Mills-USA TODAY Sports Of all the players on this list, Philadelphia Eagles running back DeMarco Murray might be in the best spot to improve over 2014. I’m not talking about Murray bettering his 392 carries for 1,845 yards. That would be nearly impossible, even in the high-powered Philadelphia offense.However, in that zone-read offense, he does have a shot to have even more big plays than he did in Dallas. Murray only averaged 4.7 yards per carry in 2014, but he had 15 carries of more than 20 yards. I look for him to have a dip in carries by 60-70 but a bump in long carries by at least five. Murray's speed is underrated, and the creases this offense creates will give him some long gains.1. Justin Forsett, RB Baltimore RavensWinslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports Topping this list of speedy, big-play guys is Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett. 2014 was his coming out party as a true feature back in the NFL. In fact, he almost single-handedly resurrected the Ravens rushing attack. A unit that could only muster 3.1 yards per carry in 2013.Forsett’s 2014 campaign saw him top that team average by 2.3 yards per carry. However, as impressive as his 1,266 yards and 5.4 yards per carry were, it’s the 17 carries of over 20 yards that put him at the top of this list. Keep in mind that is two more than Murray had, and Forsett did it with 157 fewer carries. Forsett showed an elite burst through the hole and blinding acceleration. link