The NFL Top 100 list has sparked a firestorm of debate. With Tyreek Hill‘s No. 1 ranking over Patrick Mahomes, many experts and professionals have put forth their strong arguments supporting either of the two. In an unexpected twist, former Kansas City Chiefs running back LeSean McCoy has also thrown his two cents on the matter. However, his words come forth in support of Hill, challenging the notion that Mahomes is the undisputed king of the gridiron.

Expressing on SPEAK today, McCoy defended the decision: “No, it’s not crazy. I don’t think it’s crazy at all.” The ex-Chief argued that while Mahomes might be the league’s best player, the rankings should reflect recent performance.

McCoy’s stance adds fuel to an already heated debate. “Every year Patrick Mahomes can be number one because he’s that good,” he admitted. “But this list is more of okay, what happened last year.” He pointed to Hill’s near 2,000-yard receiving season as justification for the wide receiver’s lofty position.

This endorsement raised eyebrows, given the historic partnership between Mahomes and Hill in Kansas City. From 2018 to 2021, the duo dominated defenses. The WR accumulated 331 catches for 4,638 yards and 46 TDs in 58 games alongside the QB Mahomes and even won a Super Bowl in the 2019 season. However, while Mahomes might have impacted Hill’s game during his time with the Chiefs, the 30-year-old’s stats over the past two years with the Dolphins is a testament to his individual skills.

In just 33 games, Hill has bagged 238 catches for 3509 yards and 22 TDs in just 33 games. These numbers, on an individual level, support the ex-running back’s position. In fact, it aligns with the player-voted nature of the NFL Top 100 list. As ESPN analyst Tim Hasselbeck noted, “I’m surprised a little bit that it’s not a quarterback, but I guess with Tyreek Hill, not completely surprised.”

Hasselbeck emphasized the respect Hill commands from his peers, particularly for his unmatched speed and versatility. Interestingly, McCoy also highlighted another player he felt deserved recognition: “A guy like Trent Williams, listen man, I know lineman don’t get a lot of credit… he’s that good. He can pull, he can pass block, whatever you need he can do.” This nod to an offensive lineman underscores the complexity of ranking players across different positions.

Is Playoff Patrick the real MVP?

McCoy’s comments inadvertently sparked another debate: Is Mahomes’ greatness primarily showcased in the playoffs? The Chiefs’ signal-caller has indeed been phenomenal in the postseason, amassing staggering statistics that rival entire careers.

In just 18 playoff starts – equivalent to a full NFL season – Mahomes has thrown for 5,135 yards and 41 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. His 105.8 quarterback rating in the postseason is elite by any standard. These numbers have contributed to an impressive 15-3 playoff record, beating Peyton Manning, Terry Bradshaw, and John Elway for the third-most playoff wins in NFL history.

However, focusing solely on Mahomes’ playoff heroics overlooks his consistent excellence throughout the regular season. As Chiefs head coach Andy Reid noted to ESPN, “Every season starts differently. You’ve got to come in with that same mentality you had the year before, even with a higher intensity.”

Mahomes also confessed to the pressure to produce. We felt like we didn’t play our best football, especially offensively,” he said of the previous season. “So it’s our goal to be better that way and coming in with that mentality every single day.” He is also looking forward to what additions they made to the team: “We added a lot of speed. What’s better than going against our defense? It’s the best defense in the NFL and we get to go against them every single day and really show where we’re at and how we can get better.”

This argument will not end but one thing remains clear; whether it is regular season or playoffs, Mahomes seems always to be aiming for his own highest level. And with the Chiefs’ new offensive lineup up the 3x Super Bowl Champ may have enough help to move back on top this coming season.