Tyreek Hill and the Miami Dolphins will play in the NFL’s first-ever Black Friday game against the New York Jets. It’s another opportunity for the All-Pro wide receiver to inch closer and become the first player to have 2,000 receiving yards in a season.
Before their Week 12 contest, Hill has a league-leading 1,222 yards, the most by any player through 12 weeks in the last 60-plus years. After a subpar game against his former team, the Kansas City Chiefs, Hill finished with ten catches for 146 yards and a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders.
That’s his sixth 100-yard game this season, including his 215-yard performance against the Los Angeles Chargers on opening weekend. However, he and the Dolphins will be facing a Jets defense ranked fifth in passing yards allowed (178.7) and tied for tenth in points allowed (20.4) per game.
The Jets also allow the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers, averaging 17.8 per game through Week 11. Though the Jets are coming into this game with a 4-6 record, defensive backs D.J. Reed, Jordan Whitehead, and Sauce Gardner won’t make it easy on Hill.
Aside from leading the league in passing yards, Hill has a chance to win this season’s triple crown for wideouts. He also leads the NFL in receiving touchdowns (9) and third in receptions (79) behind Keenan Allen’s 83 and Amon-Ra St. Brown’s 82.
Hill also ranks second in receptions of at least 20 yards and yards after the catch with 451. He also has the most first-down catches with 56, seven more than St. Brown.
But to surpass Calvin Johnson’s single-season record and potentially reach 2,000 receiving yards, he must average 111 yards per game in their remaining seven matches, including their Black Friday showdown against New York’s AFC team.
The journey to 2,000 yards for Tyreek Hill will be challenging, especially when they will face the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills in their last three regular season games.
-Lance Fernandez