Honestly, if you took Tyreek Hill in the first round last year, I’m sorry. It was a brutal ride. One minute you're riding high on the "Cheetah" taking you to a title, and the next, you're scouring the waiver wire for Nick Westbrook-Ikhine because the Dolphins offense hit a brick wall.
Fantasy football is cruel. But Tyreek Hill fantasy football owners had it particularly rough in 2025.
Let's look at the wreckage. Hill didn't just "underperform." He basically disappeared after Week 4. A dislocated knee and a torn ACL ended his season in late September, leaving fantasy managers with a giant hole in their rosters and even bigger questions for 2026. Can a 31-year-old receiver whose entire brand is "being the fastest human alive" actually come back from a catastrophic multi-ligament tear?
It's the question keeping dynasty managers up at night.
The Miami Meltdown: What Actually Happened?
Before the injury, things already felt... off. Mike McDaniel’s "genius" tag was starting to peel at the edges. The Dolphins were 7-10. They weren't the track team we saw in 2023. Teams figured out the cheat code: play two-high safeties, bracket Tyreek, and dare Tua Tagovailoa to throw a 5-yard slant to literally anyone else.
The numbers don't lie. Hill’s effectiveness on vertical routes nosedived. He wasn't getting that same three-yard cushion he used to. In the five games he played with Tua before the knee gave out, he was averaging about 13.4 fantasy points per game. That’s WR2/WR3 territory. For a guy you drafted to be the WR1? That’s a disaster.
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Then the Mike McDaniel firing happened.
In January 2026, Stephen Ross decided he’d seen enough. The "innovative" offense had stalled. With McDaniel gone, the Dolphins are looking at a "comprehensive change." Tyreek’s reaction on social media was classic Cheetah: "Mike don't fit yall scheme buddy sorry to tell ya." He was defending his coach, sure, but he was also acknowledging that the very system that made him a 1,700-yard receiver in Miami is currently in the dumpster.
Age, Speed, and the "Cliff"
People love talking about the "age 30 cliff" for wide receivers. Usually, it's a slow slope. For speedsters, it's a sheer drop.
Hill is 31. He turns 32 in March 2026. He’s coming off a knee dislocation that some experts, like those at FanDuel Research, have compared to the Marcus Lattimore injury. That is heavy stuff. We aren't just talking about a clean ACL tear here; we are talking about shifted tendons and multiple ligament repairs.
Why You Should Be Scared
- The Speed Gap: If Tyreek loses even 5% of his burst, he becomes a 5'10" receiver who can't outmuscle DBs.
- Cap Casualty: Miami can save $36 million by releasing him with a post-June 1st designation. If a new GM comes in and wants to rebuild around De'Von Achane and Jaylen Waddle, Hill might be looking for a new home.
- The Tua Factor: Tua’s own performance has been shaky. Without the McDaniel "timing" offense, does Tua have the arm to maximize a post-injury Tyreek?
Why You Might Still Draft Him
Look, it's Tyreek Hill. Even a "slow" Tyreek is faster than half the league. He’s a Hall of Fame talent. If he lands back in Kansas City (the rumors are flying) or stays in Miami under a coach who actually runs the ball to set up the deep shot, the volume could still be there.
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The 2026 Draft Value: Where Does He Fall?
Right now, Tyreek’s ADP (Average Draft Position) is a total wildcard. In early 2025, he was a consensus top-8 pick. For 2026? You’re probably looking at a late second or even early third-round gamble.
Jaylen Waddle is the guy everyone is pivoting to. Waddle is 26. He’s healthy. He’s already seen his target share climb to nearly 20% while Hill was out. If you’re in a dynasty league, you’ve probably already missed the window to sell Tyreek for a king’s ransom.
But in redraft? The name value will still carry him. Someone in your league will see "Tyreek Hill" at the end of Round 2 and think they're getting a steal. Don't be that person unless you've seen him run a sub-4.4 forty in training camp.
Actionable Strategy for 2026
If you're looking at Tyreek Hill fantasy football options for the upcoming season, here is how you handle it.
Check the Medicals: Don't draft before August. You need to see video of him cutting. Not just running straight—cutting. If he’s still wearing a heavy brace or skipping team drills, he’s a "Do Not Draft" at his current cost.
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Monitor the Dolphins GM Search: A new regime usually means a "purge" of expensive, older contracts. If Tyreek gets cut and signs a one-year "prove it" deal with a contender, his value actually goes up because the motivation will be through the roof.
Handcuff with Jaylen Waddle: If you do take the plunge on Tyreek, you almost have to target Waddle or even Malik Washington. The Miami offense is transitioning, and you need a piece of that volume regardless of who is catching the deep balls.
Prioritize RB Early: Since the WR landscape is getting older (Hill, Adams, Diggs all hitting the wall), 2026 is the year to grab a cornerstone back like De'Von Achane or Breece Hall early and wait for WR value in the middle rounds.
The Cheetah isn't "washed" yet. But the days of him being a "set it and forget it" fantasy god are likely over. You’re drafting a high-ceiling, terrifyingly low-floor asset. Plan your roster accordingly.
Ensure you track the Miami coaching hire throughout February. A run-heavy coach like a Jim Harbaugh disciple would cap Hill's ceiling significantly, while a pass-first coordinator might give him one last season of fantasy relevance. Keep your eyes on the Dolphins' beat reporters for updates on his recovery timeline, as a PUP list start would make him undraftable in most standard formats.