Tua Tagovailoa left Thursday Night’s game with another concussion. After having three concussions in 2022, Tagovailoa considered retiring. He returned to play in 2023, completed the entire season, and earned a new contract. However, after another concussion last night, Tagovailoa will have to rethink his career. This has huge effects on the rest of the Dolphins offense including Tyreek Hill who needs a solid quarterback to throw him the ball. It appears as though Tagovailoa will be sidelined indefinitely, meaning Skyler Thompson is expected to start, negatively altering Tyreek Hill’s fantasy football outlook.
Read More: Jaylen Waddle Fantasy Football Outlook Without Tua Tagovailoa
Fantasy Football Outlook for Tyreek Hill
Tyreek Hill Fantasy Football Redraft Outlook
Hill entered the season as a top-two receiver in fantasy football, but his outlook takes a hit without Tagovailoa. Hill has spent his entire career playing with Alex Smith, Patrick Mahomes, and Tagovailoa. Two of those are solid quarterbacks and the other is the greatest quarterback of his generation. However, Skyler Thompson lacks the same playmaking ability, having never thrown for more than 166 yards in a game. Hill relies on a high-volume passing attack to deliver his fantasy value, often benefiting from Tagovailoa’s 300-yard performances.
Dolphins WRs Tyreek Hill and and especially Jaylen Waddle had some wild splits with and without Tua Tagovailoa last season. pic.twitter.com/lH1sNJrXDc
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) April 13, 2023
With Thompson, the Dolphins’ offense will likely shift toward a more run-heavy approach, leaning on their running backs—Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane, Jeff Wilson, and Jaylen Wright. The team will also utilize short passes and check-downs to these backs, as Thompson lacks the confidence and accuracy to consistently push the ball downfield to Hill. This dramatically lowers Hill’s ceiling in the short term.
Hill remains an elite wide receiver, so keep him in your lineup. However, he goes from being an every-week top-five receiver to a low-end WR1, or a high-end WR2. He only needs one play to have a successful fantasy day, but Tagovailoa’s absence will limit those opportunities.
Tyreek Hill Fantasy Football Dynasty Outlook
Hill is a 30-year-old receiver in his ninth year in the league. He likely had no more than two or three elite seasons before the injury. If Tagovailoa does decide to retire, the Dolphins should have to go into rebuilding mode. Thompson is not a good enough quarterback to take them to the playoffs, and the best free agent, Ryan Tannehill, is not good enough either. The Dolphins will have to draft a quarterback and start over. If this happens, Hill might never play with a great quarterback ever again. However, if Tagovailoa does come back, Hill will be fine for the rest of this year and in the near future.
There is so much uncertainty around this situation right now. Contending teams in dynasty should hold onto Hill and hope that Tagovailoa returns. However, for teams rebuilding, this is the best window to trade Hill before the situation becomes worse and his value drops. If Tagovailoa announces his retirement, Hill’s value will fall, making now the optimal time to make a move.
Tyreek Hill may no longer be the top-three wide receiver fantasy managers hoped for this season. However, he remains a talented and explosive player, capable of delivering big performances. Fantasy managers should adjust their expectations but not lose all hope, as Hill’s talent is still good enough to be productive.
Main Photo: Jasen Vinlove – USA Today Sports
