The 10 Most Efficient Wide Receivers in 2017

2. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs

105 Targets, 75 Receptions, 1,183 Yards, 7 Touchdowns

0.59 Target NEP per target

It would appear that the Kansas City Chiefs' decision to release Jeremy Maclin prior to the season was fully justified. Maclin had an awful 2017 campaign with the Ravens, while Tyreek Hill went some way towards becoming a stud in his first season as the number-one guy. After hauling in 7 of his targets for 133 yards in Week 1, Hill was consistent if not explosive for the next few weeks.

Between Weeks 2 and 6, he caught 71.8% of 32 targets, but only amassed 257 yards (11.2 yards per reception). He broke out of the funk with a 6-catch, 125-yard game against the Oakland Raiders in Week 7, but his form was still uneven.

He ended the season, much like the rest of the Chiefs, on fire once again. He was targeted at least six times in each of his last four games, with three of them resulting in five-plus receptions. Hill also posted two 100-yard performances in this span, with 75 and 88 yards the other two times.

The form of Alex Smith was a massive contributor toward the efficiency of the Hill and other pass catchers on the Chiefs. Four players with at least 30 targets had Target NEP per target of at least 0.32, while wide receiver Albert Wilson and tight end Travis Kelce both were up above 0.40. Smith's 0.20 Passing NEP per drop back was the seventh-highest mark of all qualifying quarterbacks.