Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill looks on during a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Aug. 23, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Miami’s star wide receiver assures those who take him in fantasy football they have no need to worry, and he made a possibly telling remark on Odell Beckham Jr.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Star wide receiver Tyreek Hill is not just on the minds of Miami Dolphins fans these days, but NFL fans all over who participate in fantasy football.
Hill is widely considered one of the top three players in fantasy football, with many fantasy leagues holding their drafts over Labor Day weekend ahead of the season, which kicks off Thursday night with the Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs.
Things look good for Hill entering the new season, even as he missed multiple practice sessions in recent weeks recovering from a hand injury.
There appears to be no need to worry about Hill’s status ahead of the Dolphins’ opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
“I’m fine. I just needed some days off. That’s it. I’m fine. I’m healthy,” Hill said Monday after he was seen participating in practice.
“All my fantasy draftees, draft people, I’m fine, A-OK, 100 percent.”
Hill is coming off back-to-back 1,700-yard receiving seasons his first two years in Miami. Last season, after setting an individual goal for the NFL’s first 2,000-yard receiving season, he finished up at 1,799 in 16 games.
The 30-year-old, 5-foot-8, 191-pound speedster feels there will be no limitations entering his ninth professional campaign, even seen catching footballs with the previously ailing hand at Monday’s practice, which he wasn’t doing previously.
“I just wanted to troll y’all a little bit,” he added.
Hill is known as a consistent troller, but you be the judge on whether he was being untruthful and misleading or actually revealing when asked about fellow wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and his conversations with him since Beckham was kept on the physically-unable-to-perform list to start the season last Tuesday.
“I ain’t seen Odell in about a week, boy,” Hill said.
He then caught himself, looking at a Dolphins communications staffer: “I wasn’t supposed to say that or what?”
Hill playfully explained it was the first thing that came to his mind when a reporter asked about Beckham since being placed on the PUP list to start the season, meaning he is sidelined at least the first four weeks.
He backtracked on the sentiment.
“You know what? I’ve seen Odell. Just seen him,” Hill said. “Yeah, we have conversations all the time.” Beckham signed with the Dolphins as a free agent in May. It was a surprise publicly when he started training camp on PUP in late July, but general manager Chris Grier said last week the team was aware of an offseason procedure the receiver had done on an undisclosed injury stemming from last season with the Ravens. Grier also said the team made the decision to keep Beckham on PUP against his will, as Beckham wanted to be activated to start the season, feeling he was ready. His whereabouts may be unknown, but Beckham also wouldn’t necessarily be expected to be seen during brief media viewing sessions of practice while on PUP. Throughout camp, he had been seen working out on the side of drills. Nonetheless, there’s optimism surrounding Hill, the offense and the team as a whole entering the new season. “We’re all excited, man,” Hill said, as the team returned to practice Monday after a long weekend off. “We got a lot of weapons, a lot of playmakers on this team. Everybody’s on the very edge of their seat just waiting on this moment. These three days I had off, all I could think about was lining up playing alongside all the guys on the offense.” Hill had a ringing endorsement for Dolphins No. 2 wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. “All-Pro,” he said. “I’ll say All-Pro this year. He’s taken his game to another level in the classroom. He’s taking it more serious.” Hill said Waddle is now sitting next to him and fellow wideout River Cracraft in meeting rooms and studying more. “I believe that’s where it starts,” Hill said. “If you’re going to take your game to the next level at a not-ideal receiver size – you’re fast, you’re twitchy – you got to be able to do it in the classroom.” Hill has high hopes for the receiving corps beyond the top two, even if Beckham is out to start the season, along with Cracraft on injured reserve. Currently on the roster, Miami also has slot receivers in veteran Braxton Berrios and rookie Malik Washington, as well as the bigger-bodied Grant DuBose, claimed off waivers from the Green Bay Packers. “I’m glad that we added some height,” Hill quipped, interjecting an expletive into the statement. “I told (wide receivers coach) Wes (Welker), y’all keep adding these short guys. “I feel like we have one of the best entire groups in the NFL, as far as explosive, big-play abilities. We have exactly what we need to win games in this league.” Hill, while previously having the 2,000-yard aspirations, stated to start camp back in late July that he instead holds the team goal of winning in the playoffs. He has also said he wants the offense to get better at extending drives and not be so dependent on the big play.
