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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill rejected the notion that he could be the NFL MVP this season on Thursday and gave a surprising name from his own team who is “better” than him.
No wideout has ever won the league’s regular season MVP award but midway through the 2023 campaign, Hill seems to have just as good a chance as anybody. He and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown have separated themselves from the rest of the elite pass catchers over the first two months of the season and both are legitimate candidates for the hardware.
The Dolphins’ top receiver leads the NFL in receiving yards (1,014), receiving touchdowns (eight), receiving yards per game (126.8), yards after catch (382) and receiving first downs (45). The “Cheetah” is also tied for second in receptions (61) and 20+ yard receiving plays (16) and is third in targets (87).
Both Hill and Brown are on pace to break Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson’s single-season record for most receiving yards (1,964), which was set in 2012.
For what it’s worth, there have been four years when a fullback (Alec Ingold’s position) has earned the MVP honor, but three of them were won by Jim Brown and all of the occasions were between 1957-1965. Fullbacks don’t typically show up in the box score anymore, as running backs took over primary ball-handling duties decades ago.
Guys like Ingold and San Francisco 49ers’ seven-time Pro Bowler Kyle Juszczyk are two of the most recognizable fullback names in the NFL today and sometimes don’t get the respect they deserve.
Ingold is a crucial part of Miami’s offensive success and has been one of the best to play his position since entering the league in 2019.
Despite going undrafted that year, Ingold had a successful three-plus seasons with the Oakland-then-Las Vegas Raiders and signed with the Dolphins in March 2022. He’s had 70 career touches over 66 games (32 starts) for 436 yards and five touchdowns, including four through the air.
Ingold may not get the accolades and awards that Hill and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa do, but his impact on the team isn’t being lost on the four-time All-Pro pass-catcher.
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