NFL Betting: Can Tyreek Hill Be The First Receiver to Win MVP?

Of all wide receivers to ever play in the NFL, exactly zero of them have been named league MVP. However Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins is not "all receivers." You get what I'm saying ...

Undoubtedly, Hill is one of the most special playmaking talents that football has to offer. Through seven seasons at the NFL level, "Cheetah" has already surpassed 8,300 total receiving yards. He is likely the fastest active player in football.

In positive news for Hill, Miami signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa should be refreshed coming into 2023. Hill will certainly need a healthy quarterback throwing him the ball if he hopes to go for MVP.

At FanDuel Sportsbook, Hill is currently listed with +15000 odds to win the 2023-24 AP NFL MVP award. Admittedly, that is rather far down the board but is still the second-shortest price of any wide receiver. Justin Jefferson at +10000 is the first.

Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes are the current 2023 market favorites, showing identical +700 odds.

All NFL future odds are via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Running With The Cheetah

When surveying different sports, "football speed" is typically regarded higher than others (such as basketball, baseball, soccer, etc.) except for when pitted against "track speed." Of course, Hill has the latter; he is a junior Olympic gold medalist (2012 in Barcelona) in the 4x100 relay while also winning a bronze medal in the 200-meter dash at the same games.

Naturally, you don't dive into Hill's background to know he is quite fleet of foot. Since entering the NFL in 2016, Hill has scored a mesmerizing 39 total touchdowns from 30 or more yards out -- more than any other player during that span. Also, his ballcarrier speed of 23.24 MPH on a play in 2016 is the highest of the NFL Next Gen Stats era.

As Muhammed Ali would put it, Tyreek is so fast that he could turn off the light switch and be in bed before it gets dark. To complement Hill's speed, he has incredible timing and ball skills, which makes the difference between a track star and an All-Pro football player.

From Alex Smith to Mahomes and now Tua, Hill has showcased prolific receiving seasons under three different quarterbacks with two separate teams. Coming into 2023, Miami boasts an entire cast of field burners. I think that has the potential to free up Cheetah for exponential production.

Miami Lives Life in the Fast Lane

With all metaphorical references to exotic cars, flashy nightclubs, Lionel Messi and Miami Vice aside, the Dolphins are probably the fastest offense in the league.

Other speedsters on the Fins include Jaylen Waddle (21.68 MPH ballcarrier in 2022) and running back Raheem Mostert (23.02 MPH ballcarrier in 2020). In the slot, they have Braxton Berrios; the local boy is one of the most explosive route runners in the league right now. Berrios was named an NFL All-Pro as a returner in 2021.

Given Tagovailoa's recent concussion history, Miami will need to exercise essential caution with the lefty quarterback. Still, Tua is a quality athlete that can extend plays with his legs. He was sub-five seconds (4.9) in the 40-yard dash coming out of Alabama where he rushed for a total of nine touchdowns collegiately. If need be, Tagovailoa has enough natural speed to buy his receivers vital time to get downfield.

Tua's injury history also could work directly in Hill's favor to win the award. If he misses a pair of contests, he's significantly less likely to win the MVP himself should this offense boasts incredible numbers so long as Mike White can keep Hill's production at astronomic levels.

Not that it would have too much direct relation to Hill's league MVP chances, but the Dolphins have speed on defense as well. Cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey can both run with the NFL's fastest receivers.

Hot, nasty speed is a prevalent theme in the 305.

Unprecedented Territory

At this point in his career, there really aren't many individuals around the football community that could deny Hill's greatness as a receiver. Unfortunately, the fact that no wide receiver/wideout/split end/flanker has ever been named AP NFL MVP looms large.

It is quite perplexing. Despite consistent legendary performances throughout NFL history from the likes of Lance Alworth, Jerry Rice, Calvin "Megatron" Johnson, Randy "The Freak" Moss, Steve Largent, Terrell Owens, Tim Brown, and even Cooper Kupp's 2021 season, receivers are continually overlooked in the MVP market.

As mentioned, Justin Jefferson carries the best NFL MVP odds (+10000) at FanDuel Sportsbook for any wide receiver heading into 2023, but Hill is right behind him at 150-1. I respect that this positional feat has never been accomplished, but in a way, it feels like we are closer than ever to seeing a wideout win the award. After all, they on are the back end of the most enthralling plays in sports, capping them with culture-permeating celebrations.

Wide receivers resonate deeply in mainstream popularity as well as on-field production, so why can't we see a pass-catcher for MVP?

After all, we've seen two wideouts win Super Bowl MVP in the past five years despite seeing just 6 win that award in the first 52 Super Bowls. They're growing in award consideration every year.

Conclusion

Hill's dominance since entering the league is unrivaled. A player that was once considered by his now teammate Ramsey to be a return specialist exclusively, Hill has transcended the wide receiver position. With his speed and abilities after the catch, no coverage cushion is large enough.

Anything but a "flash in the pan" talent, Hill has delivered consistent numbers regardless of who is throwing him the football. There was speculation of a possible drop in his production after leaving Kansas City and Mahomes, but in his first year with the Fins, Hill set a career-best mark with an astronomical 1,710 receiving yards -- the 11th-highest total in any NFL season. Keep in mind that no player has ever crossed the 2,000-yard threshold in that category; if Hill can be the first, he will absolutely attract league MVP consideration.

Miami has rocket-like speed all throughout its offensive unit. As we saw in 2022, players Hill and Waddle will be able to complement each other with aggressive synergy; Waddle provided more than 1,300 yards of his own last year. Add a healthy Mostert and Berrios to the mix, and Tagovailoa should find Hill on a healthy share of deep shots.

Admittedly, it would need to be a truly historic campaign, but Hill winning the 2023 AP NFL MVP is not an impossibility. His +15000 odds may make it appear so, and he does not possess the best price at his position, but Hill's X-factor abilities are close to immeasurable.

In reality, you probably feel better about his likelihood in other markets. For instance, Hill's 2023 Offensive Player of the Year odds are much shorter at +2000. They are tied with Nick Chubb for the fourth-best on FanDuel Sportsbook's board.

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.