Putting together the magazine, I was surprised how much interest there was in Tyreek Hill. We have a Mock Draft, a Mock Auction and an Experts Poll, and in each of those three arenas, Hill’s name came up earlier than I was expecting.

For the past few months, I have been operating under the assumption Hill is very unlikely to step on a field in 2019. The district attorney’s office in Overland Park is investigating child abuse allegations. What they’ll find I have no idea, but the team has told him to stay away from all team activities. The NFL hasn’t taken official action, but it hasn’t had to (with it being the offseason). It’s indicated that it’s trying to stay out of the way of the legal investigation, but I would think that before games start, Hill likely will be either suspended or placed on the Commissioner Exempt List. He may be barred from the league permanently.

Yet Hill showed up on rosters in these competitions, and as more than just a throw-away pick.

In the Mock Draft, he was the 51st wide receiver selected.

In the Mock Auction, he went for $7 (out of a $200 salary cap), tying for 41st among wide receivers. I was in the auction (expecting somebody would bid $1 or $2) but there were seven bids, made by I think five different guys.

And in the Experts Poll, Hill showed up among the top 20 wide receivers on the lists of two of the 20 competitors.

In both of the “mock” leagues, those are best-ball competitions. The thinking there, perhaps, is that if Hill plays in the second half of the season (or maybe more) there will be plenty of very good weeks.

The numbers Hill put up last year were certainly remarkable. In the last 10 years, only 10 other wide receivers have finished with more overall points (using PPR scoring).

300-POINT RECEIVERS (last 10 years)
YearPlayerNoRecRunTDPPR
2015Antonio Brown, Pitt.1361,8342811392.2
2014Antonio Brown, Pitt.1291,6981314390.1
2015Julio Jones, Atl.1361,87109377.1
2011Calvin Johnson, Det.961,6811116361.2
2012Calvin Johnson, Det.1221,96405348.4
2015Brandon Marshall, NYJ1091,502014343.2
2014Demaryius Thomas, Den.1111,619011340.9
2018DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.1151,572-711337.5
2011Wes Welker, N.E.1221,569309335.9
2012Brandon Marshall, Chi.1181,508-211334.6
2018Tyreek Hill, K.C.871,47915114334.0
2015DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.1111,521011331.1
2018Julio Jones, Atl.1131,677128329.9
2018Davante Adams, G.B.1111,386013329.6
2014Jordy Nelson, G.B.981,519013327.9
2018Antonio Brown, Pitt.1041,297015323.7
2018Michael Thomas, N.O.1251,40509319.5
2015Odell Beckham, NYG961,450313319.3
2013Demaryius Thomas, Den.921,430014319.0
2010Roddy White, Atl.1151,389310318.2
2014Dez Bryant, Dall.881,320016316.0
2013Josh Gordon, Clev.871,646889314.4
2013Antonio Brown, Pitt.1101,49949314.3
2009Andre Johnson, Hou.1011,56909313.9
2017DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.961,378013311.8
2017Antonio Brown, Pitt.1011,53309310.3
2018Adam Thielen, Min.1131,373309309.3
2016Antonio Brown, Pitt.1061,284912307.3
2016Jordy Nelson, G.B.971,257014306.7
2013A.J. Green, Cin.981,426011306.6
2013Brandon Marshall, Chi.1001,295012305.5
2013Calvin Johnson, Det.841,492012305.2
2016Mike Evans, T.B.961,321012304.1
2015Allen Robinson, Jac.801,400014304.0
2012Dez Bryant, Dall.921,382-512303.7
2014Emmanuel Sanders, Den.1011,404449301.8
2012A.J. Green, Cin.971,3503811301.8

—Ian Allan