Over the years, the NFL has seen many big-time playmakers take to the field each week at a wide range of positions. However, one position that has had some true game changers is the kick returner position.

Possibly the most electrifying play in all of football, the kick return is a play that sets up the field position for the offense while also being a big play with one missed tackle or one perfect juke to find the hole.

As the NFL has made changes to the NFL kickoff over the years, the play is still exciting and one that fans love to watch.

In 2021, the NFL saw many great kick returners step back at the goal line, elect to return it, and boom their 35 yards down field. While we can debate the position, one question that many ask is “who is the best NFL punt returner right now”.

As that is difficult to answer for just one player, we have compiled a list of the Top 10 NFL Kick Returners during the 2021-2022 NFL schedule.

With that said, here is our list of the Top 10 NFL Kick Returners 2021-2022 Rankings.

Honorable Mention

Khalil Herbert

Team(s): Chicago Bears

2021 Stats: 650 Yards, 50 Long, 24.1 Yards Per Return, 0 TD

Just missing the Top 10 NFL Kick Returners in 2021, is the Chicago Bears running back and 2021 NFL draft pick Khalil Herbert.

Herbert who put together a solid season at the running back position also put together a strong kick return resume. Herbert finished the season tied for 7th in average kick return posting a mark of 24.1 yards per return.

In addition, the Bears running back finished the season with 650 total punt return yards, 16 kick returns of at least 20 yards and three returns of at least 40 plus yards.

Devin Duvernay

Team(s): Baltimore Ravens

2021 Stats: 578 Yards, 93 Long, 27.5 Yards Per Return, 1 TD

The Baltimore Ravens All-Pro returner put together a brilliant punt return season together while also being a key kick returner in the NFL.

As Devin Duvernay slowly transitions into a playmaker at the receiver position, the former Texas Longhorns star has become one of the best kick returners in the NFL.

Duvernay finished last season tied with Khalil Herbert for 7th in the NFL in average kick return yards per return with 24.1 per return. Overall, the Ravens star finished with 676 kick return yards and 24 returns of at least 20 yards.

Top 10 NFL Kick Returners

10. DeeJay Dallas

Team(s): Seattle Seahawks

2021 Stats: 764 Yards, 40 Long, 23.2 Yards Per Return, 0 TD

Landing at number 10 on the Top 10 NFL Kick Returners 2021-22 rankings list is the Seattle Seahawks running back DeeJay Dallas.

Dallas finished the season tied for the NFL lead with 25 kick returns of at least 20 yards along with DeAndre Carter.

In addition, the Seahawks kick returner finished the season averaging 23.2 yards per kick return to go along with 764 total kick return yards. 

9. Ray-Ray McCloud

Team(s): Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers

2021 Stats: 776 Yards, 40 Long, 22.2 Yards Per Return, 0 TD

Another terrific punt returner who also is one of the best kick returners in the NFL is the former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud.

McCloud who was the Steelers prime returner last year in both punt returns, and kick returns finished as one of the top performers at the position.

McCloud finished the 2021 NFL season with the 4th most kick return yards in the NFL with 776 total yards to go along with 19 kick returns of at least 20 yards.

8. Tony Pollard

Team(s): Dallas Cowboys

2021 Stats: 489 Yards, 100 Long, 28.8 Yards Per Return, 1 TD

Only eight kick returners around the NFL managed to return a kick return for a touchdown during the 2021 NFL season.

One of those eight players was the Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard who posted a 100-yard kick return for just one of his 17 total returns of the 2021 NFL campaign.

Pollard also finished the 2021 NFL season ranked 2nd in average kick return posting a 28.8 average. 

7. Godwin Igwebuike

Team(s): Detroit Lions

2021 Stats: 697 Yards, 47 Long, 24.9 Yards Per Return, 0 TD

Landing at number seven on the Top 10 NFL Kick Returners 2021-22 ranking list is the Detroit Lions running back Godwin Igwebuike.

The former Northwestern Wildcats star ranked 4th in the NFL in average yards per kick return with a mark of 24.9 yards per return. Over the course of the NFL schedule, Igwebuike recorded 28 total kick returns for 697 total yards.

In addition, the Lions running back posted two kick returns of at least 40 yards and 21 kick returns of at least 20 yards per return. 

6. Jamal Agnew

Team(s): Jacksonville Jaguars

2021 Stats: 525 Yards, 102 Long, 23.9 Yards Per Return, 1 TD

Anytime an NFL team can have a kick returner that can take a kick back for a touchdown, there is an instant threat and game changer.

One of those kick returning threats is the Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jamal Agnew. Agnew was one of only eight kick returners who returned a kick for a touchdown last season. 

Over the season Agnew posted 525 total kick return yards after averaging 23.9 yards per kick return for the Jaguars.

5. Tremon Smith

Team(s): Houston Texans

2021 Stats: 537 Yards, 98 Long, 25.6 Yards Per Return, 1 TD

Landing at number five on the Top 10 NFL Kick Returners 2021-22 rankings list is the Houston Texans cornerback Tremon Smith.

Smith who is the only non-offensive player to appear as one of the top kick returners in the NFL recorded a 98-kick return for a touchdown last season and is one of only nine players with at least two kick returns of at least 40 plus yards.

Smith finished the season averaging 25.6 yards per kick return while also adding 13 additional returns of at least 20 plus yards.

4. DeAndre Carter

Team(s): Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Chargers

2021 Stats: 904 Yards, 101 Long, 25.1 Yards Per Return, 1 TD

As DeAndre Carter is set to head to the Los Angeles Chargers to be a key weapon as a kick returner, Carter put together a brilliant 2021 as one of the NFL’s best kick returners.

Carter finished ranked 2nd in the NFL behind just Andre Roberts in return yards posting a mark of 904 kick return yards while averaging 25.1 yards per return and one kickoff return for a touchdown in 36 kick returns.

3. Braxton Berrios

Team(s): New York Jets

2021 Stats: 852 Yards, 102 Long, 30.4 Yards Per Return, 1 TD

One of the NFL’s top dual threat returners is the New York Jets kick returner and punt returner Braxton Berrios.

Berrios finished the 2021 NFL season averaging 30.4 yards per kick return while also returning one kickoff 102 yards for a kick return touchdown.

The New York Jets kick returner finished the season with 28 kick returns and 852 kick return yards while leading the NFL in average kickoff return. 

2. Andre Roberts

Team(s): Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers

2021 Stats: 1010 Yards, 101 Long, 27.3 Yards Per Return, 1 TD

It was a two-way race to the top as the best NFL kick returner with Andre Roberts landing at number two trailing only Kene Nwangwu of the Minnesota Vikings.

Roberts, who split time between the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers last year finished with an NFL lead 1,010 kick return yards while also averaging the third most kick returns per return during the 2021 NFL season with 27.3 per return.

In addition, Roberts also was one of eight players to record a kickoff return for a touchdown.

1. Kene Nwangwu

Team(s): Minnesota Vikings

2021 Stats: 579 Yards, 99 Long, 32.2 Yards Per Return, 2 TD

Landing at number one on the list of the Top 10 NFL Kick Returners 2021-22 is the Minnesota Vikings running back Kene Nwangwu.

Anytime you have a player who returns not one, but two kickoff returns for a touchdown in a season, it is easy to make a case for them as the best kick returner in the NFL.

That is the case with Nwangwu who was the only player in the NFL to post two kickoff return touchdowns. The Vikings kick returner finished the season with 5789 yards while averaging 32.2 yards per return.

How would you rank these Kick Returners going into the 2022-2023 NFL season? Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings.

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