4. Tyreek Hill: And four are left. When this player came into the league, he was solely a Special Teams contributor. Since then, he’s transitioned to playing Wide Receiver. I remember first watching him and his ability to impact the game with his quickness. He was one of the key pieces for those Chiefs offenses for years. Last off-season, he got traded to the Miami Dolphins and everyone wondered how he’d do without Patrick Mahomes. Come on down number 10. Tyreek Hill is my fourth-ranked player on the list and checks in as my second-best receiver in the league right now.
So many think these nicknames or alter egos are just that, nicknames. Cheetah applies to him. He is the fastest player in the league and it’s not close. He’s lived up to that nickname. I don’t think people really understand just how fast Tyreek is. He can jog out of his release, then turn on the accelerators and he’s down the field wide open. I think we focus so much on his speed that we forget to look at the route running. Tyreek runs the entire route tree and though he’s a smaller receiver, he plays as if he’s a possession guy. He’s able to stretch the field vertically. Look at his ability to also run the short route because he’s even a threat in that aspect and I say that because he can turn a short five-yard route into a 60-yard touchdown. The ability to get in those tight spaces and decelerate, reaccelerate and get to top speed is what sets him apart from others in this league. Tyreek is so elusive with the football in his hands and it’s never just about catching the ball with him. What he does with it in space is another thing that separates him from his peers. In his debut season with the Dolphins, I remember his game against the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore’s secondary paid the price for electing to defend him in man coverage. Once Tyreek got the speed and separation, Tua Tagovailoa knew to get him the ball.
His impact on the Dolphins spoke volumes. In his first season with Miami, he finished with 119 receptions which was second in the league, 1,710 yards receiving which was also second in the league and seven touchdowns. He gave that offense a spark and helped the Dolphins get to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. What stands out to me is he’s shown he can do it with any Quarterback.
