The Miami Dolphins have been a trainwreck amid a disappointing 2-4 start to the 2024 season. But with Tua Tagovailoa on schedule to return in Week 8, things could be looking up soon for the Dolphins’ pass catchers, including Tyreek Hill.
Using Pro Football Network’s Trade Analyzer, we take a look at how Hill has been at the center of some massive trade trends.
Tyreek Hill Trade Trends
Tyreek Hill has had a muted start to the 2024 season. Through six games, Hill has just 24 catches for 294 yards and one touchdown. His 49 receiving yards per game are his fewest since his rookie season back in 2016.
However, Tagovailoa is expected to return for the Dolphins’ Week 8 game against the Arizona Cardinals, barring any setbacks in practice. That has fantasy managers dreaming of a return to 2023 when Hill threatened the single-season receiving yardage record and led the NFL with 1,799 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns.
As a result, PFN’s trade analyzer has seen some massive trends with Hill:
- Since Oct. 1: Hill has been TRADED FOR 51,000+ times. That ranks third-most among all players in the trade analyzer.
- Since Oct. 14: Hill has been TRADED FOR 20,000+ times, second-most among all players. That date was the Monday before Tagovailoa’s last required game on IR (Week 7 vs. the Indianapolis Colts).
- Since Monday: Hill has been TRADED FOR more than any other player. That coincides with Tagovailoa’s press conference announcing his expected Week 8 return.
In visual form, here’s the rolling number of trades for Hill in PFN’s Trade Analyzer by date.
Fantasy Impact of Tua Tagovailoa’s Return
There’s no doubt that a Tagovailoa return would boost Hill. Granted, the Dolphins weren’t functioning at a high level on offense through two games with Tagovailoa under center. Miami ranked 26th in points per drive through Week 2, with Hill recording only 24 yards in the second game after 130 yards in the season-opener.
Still, the much larger sample illustrates how Tagovailoa-to-Hill is one of the deadliest connections in the league. Since becoming teammates in 2022, Tagovailoa and Hill have produced the third-most EPA of any QB-receiver duo in that span. That’s despite Tagovailoa missing eight games in that span.
Week 8 is also an especially juicy landing spot, with a home game against Arizona. The environment is already tough for the Cards, who must travel cross-country during a short week after playing on Monday night. Arizona has allowed a league-worst 9.3 yards per attempt to wide receivers this season, making this a potential blow-up spot for Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Both Hill and Waddle have been huge disappointments after both eclipsed 1,000 yards together in 2022 and 2023. Hill is the WR45 overall by PPR points per game this season, while Waddle is the WR58 overall.
However, fantasy managers who held on to either should be rewarded in the second half of the year, provided Tagovailoa remains on the field. With how explosive this unit was in 2023, it’s no surprise fantasy managers are racing to figure out how they can add Hill to their roster for the stretch run.