The NFL Top 100 is being unveiled, and Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton has been ranked as the 61st best player in this year’s ranking.
Hilton finished with 91 receptions for a league-leading 1,448 receiving yards (15.9 yards per reception) and 6 touchdown receptions en route to a 3rd straight Pro Bowl appearance:
"I told him he's a pretty good player & he said, ‘nah I’m a great player.’ I said, ‘I have to agree with you.’”-@show_case29
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) May 16, 2017
👻 @TYHilton13👻 pic.twitter.com/cR2Wzq7VcB
Hilton also finished 2nd in the NFL with 66 total first downs (trailing only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mike Evans) and was 1st in the league regarding 20+ yard receptions with 28 of such receptions.
Per Pro Football Focus (subscription), he was their 5th best wide receiver last season with a +87.3 grade overall.
The 27 year old wide receiver took his receiving game to a whole new level last year, as he was among the top wide receivers in all of football.
Among the comments from some opposing cornerbacks who have lined up against Hilton in this year’s Top 100:
Charles James, cornerback, Buffalo Bills (Former Houston Texan and Indianapolis Colt):
"“T.Y. is one of those guys that you want to make sure you touch if you’re pressing him. So if you’re up there and you miss or you’re trying out something new that you saw this week, and your coach is like ‘Try to go up there and play with him’, he’s not one of those ones that you want to play with at the line because if he gets past you, I guarantee he’s gone. He’s not coming back.” “Unless he’s coming back with the ball, and then you see him doing that (motions T.Y. touchdown dance), and that’s a sad story when he’s doing that.”"
Casey Hayward, cornerback, Los Angeles Chargers:
"“Anytime that you can lead in any category in the NFL, I’m pretty sure you’re a pretty good player. I told him he’s a pretty good player and he (Hilton) says that ‘No, I’m a great player’. I said (nodding) that I have to agree with you.”"
There’s no question that the 5’9″, 180 pound wideout is diminutive, yet incredibly dangerous, as he remains one of the best downfield threats in all of football–blessed with tremendous speed and agility.
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As such, Hilton’s 61st ranking seems very deserved, as the league’s reigning receiving king had a breakout season in 2016.
Right now, Colts fans are still hoping that his best is yet to come (while we’d all gladly take another repeat performance).