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Turning back the clock

Tyreek, Mixon look to make NFL returns

It’s a throwback Monday, with teams kicking the tires on Tyreek Hill and Joe Mixon. Both will be picked up on many waiver wires this week.

They’re similar in many ways. Both are in their 30s, both have had seasons will double-digit touchdowns with multiple teams. Both were disciplined at schools in the state of Oklahoma after off-field incidents involving violence, and both have also been involved in multiple legal issues at the pro level.

Hill is the more compelling of the two prospects. He’s been awfully good for a long time, and it looks like Kansas City has interest in bringing him back. It lost Tyquan Thornton Sunday to what looked like a season-ending injury, and Rashee Rice also left that game with a hamstring injury.

Kansas City needs help at wide receiver, where it’s down to pretty much just Rice (when healthy) and Xavier Worthy. They need a third guy. And the options are either Hill (who should be ready to play in November) or hope for a youngster to emerge. Rookie Cyrus Allen made some plays at camp but hasn’t caught a pass in a regular-season game yet. Jalen Royals looks more likely, being a year ahead in his development. Royals has caught 3 passes so far, including a touchdown. (In my opinion, Royals is promising enough to merit a stash roster spot in larger leagues.)

But if Hill can get back to being 85 percent of what he was in the past, he might be this team’s most productive receiver in the second half of the season. He’s 32 and just over a year removed from a horrific knee injury, making it unlikely that he’ll be quite the burner he’s in the past (he’s been the league’s fastest player for most of his career). But Hill could show up a step slower and maybe still have top-10 speed.

Hill’s agent says he expects him to sign with a team this week. With KC looking like a Super Bowl contender, that’s compelling. He’s the only player in league history to go over 1,700 receiving yards twice.

PLAYERS WITH 1,700 RECEIVING YARDS
YearPlayerGNoYardsAvgTD
2012Calvin Johnson, Det.161221,96416.15
2021Cooper Kupp, LAR171451,94713.416
2015Julio Jones, Atl.161361,87113.88
1995Jerry Rice, S.F.161221,84815.115
2015Antonio Brown, Pitt.161361,83413.510
2022Justin Jefferson, Min.171281,80914.18
2023Tyreek Hill, Mia.161191,79915.113
2025Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sea.171191,79315.110
1995Isaac Bruce, St.L.161191,78115.013
2023CeeDee Lamb, Dall.171351,74913.012
1961Charley Hennigan, Hou.14821,74621.312
2019Michael Thomas, N.O.161491,72511.69
2002Marvin Harrison, Ind.161431,72212.011
2025Puka Nacua, LAR161291,71513.310
2022Tyreek Hill, Mia.171191,71014.47
2024Ja'Marr Chase, Cin.171271,70813.417

Mixon has gone even longer than Hill without playing. He missed all of last season with an injury that was never detailed publicly. But he’s gone over 1,000 rushing yards in his last two seasons (with the Bengals and Texans), and the Seahawks are reportedly bringing him in for a look.

Mixon averaged only 4.1 yards per carry in 2024, but I think he played pretty well that season. Houston didn’t put much of an offensive line in front of him. And he came up big in the playoffs, with 194 yards and 2 TDs (averaging 4.5 per attempt).

I suppose it’s possible Mixon could have a few serviceable starts left in him. But I would not be crazy about investing much to place him on my roster in a typical fantasy league. By the time he’s ready to operate at a good level, the Seahawks could be overcrowded at the position. Zach Charbonnet is practicing; he’ll probably be available in Week 6 or 7. Jadarian Price will eligible to come off IR in Week 8.

Seattle also has Emanuel Wilson, who looks like an above-average backup to me. He carried 21 times for 81 yards on Sunday against the Chargers, and he sparked the team off the bench in Week 2 at Arizona, carrying 21 times for 92 yards. Wilson never was involved much in the passing game in Green Bay, but caught 3 passes for a career-high 39 yards on Sunday, including a touchdown.

Wilson is a player I have long admired. An undrafted free agent, he forced his way into the league back in 2023 with a strong preseason, and he’s done well with his limited opportunities. I remember a game at Chicago last year where he outperformed Josh Jacobs, and I was surprised when the Packers didn’t re-sign him.

Since Wilson came into the league in 2023, 62 running backs have carried the ball at least 200 times, and Wilson has averaged more yards per carry than most of them. I wouldn’t think that Mixon (if they sign him) will show up and instantly leapfrog Wilson on the depth chart.

If using the last spot on my roster for one of these veterans, it will be Hill rather than Mixon.

YARS PER CARRY SINCE 2023
PlayerGAttYardsAvgTD
De'Von Achane475783,1845.5122
Jahmyr Gibbs537553,9335.2144
James Cook548234,1735.0733
Derrick Henry5510015,0575.0551
Jordan Mason463671,8124.9413
Jaleel McLaughlin442281,1244.934
Bijan Robinson548714,2594.8927
Kyle Monangai212291,1074.838
TreVeyon Henderson202181,0524.8310
Jaylen Warren525352,5624.7911
Blake Corum382361,1154.726
Saquon Barkley509084,2894.7226
James Conner324762,2294.6816
Jonathan Taylor458814,1104.6742
Kyren Williams498573,9894.6539
J.K. Dobbins284021,8604.6314
Chris Rodriguez392241,0284.5912
Christian McCaffrey416833,0814.5128
Bucky Irving314361,9514.4710
Kenneth Walker476803,0424.4724
Rico Dowdle515752,5534.4410
Raheem Mostert403161,3944.4120
D'Andre Swift537743,4064.4023
Aaron Jones446012,6394.3910
Jerome Ford443321,4514.377
Tank Bigsby543091,3454.3512
Antonio Gibson382109094.333
David Montgomery496092,6334.3235
Emanuel Wilson452951,2734.328
Tyrone Tracy363721,5954.297
Breece Hall527263,0984.2715
Chuba Hubbard516832,9144.2719
Kenneth Gainwell542861,2174.268
Chase Brown495632,3954.2514
Brian Robinson494872,0644.2416
Isiah Pacheco344061,7074.209
Tony Pollard548083,3874.1917
Jacory Croskey-Merritt212319624.169
Zach Charbonnet494271,7614.1221
Tyjae Spears462711,1134.118
• Joe Mixon315022,0504.0820
Rhamondre Stevenson455372,1864.0719
Kimani Vidal272048294.063
Javonte Williams536702,7194.0623
Zack Moss222571,0364.037
Najee Harris405552,2274.0114
Nick Chubb252521,0084.006
Rachaad White535702,2753.9913
Josh Jacobs457683,0633.9934
Travis Etienne527072,8013.9620
Devin Singletary514571,7973.9313
Gus Edwards282991,1753.9317
Tyler Allgeier554981,9533.9216
Austin Ekeler292741,0673.899
Alvin Kamara405572,1663.8912
Miles Sanders312047543.704
Ashton Jeanty213441,2393.605
Alexander Mattison303121,1203.594
Woody Marks202247903.534
Kareem Hunt454981,7503.5124
Quinshon Judkins182891,0043.478
AJ Dillon262077163.462
Ezekiel Elliott322588683.366

—Ian Allan

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