Chiefs vs. Bengals is a showcase for NFL’s fastest players
By Matt Conner
Wide receivers Tyreek Hill and John Ross might be the two fastest players in the entire NFL and they’ll face off on Saturday in Cincinnati.
The Kansas City Chiefs know firsthand what can happen when you have a player who is faster than anyone else. After drafting Tyreek Hill in the fifth round as a small-school prospect rebounding from a troubled past, the Chiefs employed him as a returner, rusher and wide receiver to great effect, with a grand total of 12 touchdowns and a threat to score every time he gets the ball.
Cincinnati apparently took notes because they used their No. 9 pick overall on the fastest player coming out of college into this year’s draft class: wide receiver John Ross from the University of Washington. Ross broke Chris Johnson’s NFL Combine record for the fastest 40-yard dash on record. Despite other needs on the roster, Cincy went all in on an offensive remake, hoping to spark an offense and force defenses to adjust to new playmakers with the additions of Ross and running back Joe Mixon.
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That’s good news for Cincy since their offense scored 84 points less in 2016 than the previous season. Last year’s total points scored of 325 was the lowest for the franchise since 2010, and the Bengals dropped from 7th in points scored in the NFL to 24th. Ross and Mixon will work wonders on that total if Tyreek Hill’s impact is any indication of what such a young, dynamic playmaker can bring.
When the two teams square off on Saturday, it will be interesting to watch just how fast both Hill and Ross are compared to the other players. Hopefully Ross is able to suit up, but he has been slow to return from a shoulder injury. It’s uncertain whether or not he will play for sure.