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 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | G | No | Yards | Avg | TD |
| 2012 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 16 | 122 | 1,964 | 16.1 | 5 |
| 2021 | Cooper Kupp, LAR | 17 | 145 | 1,947 | 13.4 | 16 |
| 2015 | Julio Jones, Atl. | 16 | 136 | 1,871 | 13.8 | 8 |
| 1995 | Jerry Rice, S.F. | 16 | 122 | 1,848 | 15.1 | 15 |
| 2015 | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 16 | 136 | 1,834 | 13.5 | 10 |
| 2022 | Justin Jefferson, Min. | 17 | 128 | 1,809 | 14.1 | 8 |
| 2023 | Tyreek Hill, Mia. | 16 | 119 | 1,799 | 15.1 | 13 |
| 2025 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sea. | 17 | 119 | 1,793 | 15.1 | 10 |
| 1995 | Isaac Bruce, St.L. | 16 | 119 | 1,781 | 15.0 | 13 |
| 2023 | CeeDee Lamb, Dall. | 17 | 135 | 1,749 | 13.0 | 12 |
| 1961 | Charley Hennigan, Hou. | 14 | 82 | 1,746 | 21.3 | 12 |
| 2019 | Michael Thomas, N.O. | 16 | 149 | 1,725 | 11.6 | 9 |
| 2002 | Marvin Harrison, Ind. | 16 | 143 | 1,722 | 12.0 | 11 |
| 2025 | Puka Nacua, LAR | 16 | 129 | 1,715 | 13.3 | 10 |
| 2022 | Tyreek Hill, Mia. | 17 | 119 | 1,710 | 14.4 | 7 |
| 2024 | Ja'Marr Chase, Cin. | 17 | 127 | 1,708 | 13.4 | 17 |
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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | G | Att | Yards | Avg | TD |
| De'Von Achane | 47 | 578 | 3,184 | 5.51 | 22 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | 53 | 755 | 3,933 | 5.21 | 44 |
| James Cook | 54 | 823 | 4,173 | 5.07 | 33 |
| Derrick Henry | 55 | 1001 | 5,057 | 5.05 | 51 |
| Jordan Mason | 46 | 367 | 1,812 | 4.94 | 13 |
| Jaleel McLaughlin | 44 | 228 | 1,124 | 4.93 | 4 |
| Bijan Robinson | 54 | 871 | 4,259 | 4.89 | 27 |
| Kyle Monangai | 21 | 229 | 1,107 | 4.83 | 8 |
| TreVeyon Henderson | 20 | 218 | 1,052 | 4.83 | 10 |
| Jaylen Warren | 52 | 535 | 2,562 | 4.79 | 11 |
| Blake Corum | 38 | 236 | 1,115 | 4.72 | 6 |
| Saquon Barkley | 50 | 908 | 4,289 | 4.72 | 26 |
| James Conner | 32 | 476 | 2,229 | 4.68 | 16 |
| Jonathan Taylor | 45 | 881 | 4,110 | 4.67 | 42 |
| Kyren Williams | 49 | 857 | 3,989 | 4.65 | 39 |
| J.K. Dobbins | 28 | 402 | 1,860 | 4.63 | 14 |
| Chris Rodriguez | 39 | 224 | 1,028 | 4.59 | 12 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 41 | 683 | 3,081 | 4.51 | 28 |
| Bucky Irving | 31 | 436 | 1,951 | 4.47 | 10 |
| Kenneth Walker | 47 | 680 | 3,042 | 4.47 | 24 |
| Rico Dowdle | 51 | 575 | 2,553 | 4.44 | 10 |
| Raheem Mostert | 40 | 316 | 1,394 | 4.41 | 20 |
| D'Andre Swift | 53 | 774 | 3,406 | 4.40 | 23 |
| Aaron Jones | 44 | 601 | 2,639 | 4.39 | 10 |
| Jerome Ford | 44 | 332 | 1,451 | 4.37 | 7 |
| Tank Bigsby | 54 | 309 | 1,345 | 4.35 | 12 |
| Antonio Gibson | 38 | 210 | 909 | 4.33 | 3 |
| David Montgomery | 49 | 609 | 2,633 | 4.32 | 35 |
| Emanuel Wilson | 45 | 295 | 1,273 | 4.32 | 8 |
| Tyrone Tracy | 36 | 372 | 1,595 | 4.29 | 7 |
| Breece Hall | 52 | 726 | 3,098 | 4.27 | 15 |
| Chuba Hubbard | 51 | 683 | 2,914 | 4.27 | 19 |
| Kenneth Gainwell | 54 | 286 | 1,217 | 4.26 | 8 |
| Chase Brown | 49 | 563 | 2,395 | 4.25 | 14 |
| Brian Robinson | 49 | 487 | 2,064 | 4.24 | 16 |
| Isiah Pacheco | 34 | 406 | 1,707 | 4.20 | 9 |
| Tony Pollard | 54 | 808 | 3,387 | 4.19 | 17 |
| Jacory Croskey-Merritt | 21 | 231 | 962 | 4.16 | 9 |
| Zach Charbonnet | 49 | 427 | 1,761 | 4.12 | 21 |
| Tyjae Spears | 46 | 271 | 1,113 | 4.11 | 8 |
| • Joe Mixon | 31 | 502 | 2,050 | 4.08 | 20 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | 45 | 537 | 2,186 | 4.07 | 19 |
| Kimani Vidal | 27 | 204 | 829 | 4.06 | 3 |
| Javonte Williams | 53 | 670 | 2,719 | 4.06 | 23 |
| Zack Moss | 22 | 257 | 1,036 | 4.03 | 7 |
| Najee Harris | 40 | 555 | 2,227 | 4.01 | 14 |
| Nick Chubb | 25 | 252 | 1,008 | 4.00 | 6 |
| Rachaad White | 53 | 570 | 2,275 | 3.99 | 13 |
| Josh Jacobs | 45 | 768 | 3,063 | 3.99 | 34 |
| Travis Etienne | 52 | 707 | 2,801 | 3.96 | 20 |
| Devin Singletary | 51 | 457 | 1,797 | 3.93 | 13 |
| Gus Edwards | 28 | 299 | 1,175 | 3.93 | 17 |
| Tyler Allgeier | 55 | 498 | 1,953 | 3.92 | 16 |
| Austin Ekeler | 29 | 274 | 1,067 | 3.89 | 9 |
| Alvin Kamara | 40 | 557 | 2,166 | 3.89 | 12 |
| Miles Sanders | 31 | 204 | 754 | 3.70 | 4 |
| Ashton Jeanty | 21 | 344 | 1,239 | 3.60 | 5 |
| Alexander Mattison | 30 | 312 | 1,120 | 3.59 | 4 |
| Woody Marks | 20 | 224 | 790 | 3.53 | 4 |
| Kareem Hunt | 45 | 498 | 1,750 | 3.51 | 24 |
| Quinshon Judkins | 18 | 289 | 1,004 | 3.47 | 8 |
| AJ Dillon | 26 | 207 | 716 | 3.46 | 2 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 32 | 258 | 868 | 3.36 | 6 |
—Ian Allan

