NFL 2017: Top Punt and Kick Returners
Top Punt and Kick Returners

Each NFL season features many exciting plays in the return game, as both established veterans and explosive young stars provide exhilarating action on punt and kick returns.

Kansas City Chiefs rookie Tyreek Hill led the NFL with a 15.2 yards per punt return average and was the only player to have both a punt-return touchdown (two) and a kickoff-return touchdown (one) in 2016. Hill joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers as the only players with at least five receiving touchdowns (six), three rushing touchdowns (three), a punt-return touchdown (two) and a kick-return touchdown (one) in a single season.

Houston Texans rookie Will Fuller returned a punt 67 yards for the game-winning touchdown in the Texans' 27-20 victory over Tennessee in Week 4. Fuller, who was selected in the first round (21st overall) of the 2016 Draft, became the only rookie in NFL history to have 300 or more receiving yards (323) and a punt-return touchdown in his team's first four games of a season.

Return specialist / wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, who signed with the Raiders during the offseason, recorded a 104-yard kickoff-return touchdown for Minnesota in a Week 11 victory over Arizona, becoming the first player in league history with four career touchdowns of at least 100 yards.

Kenyan Drake, Miami Dolphins

In Week 9, recorded the second-longest kickoff-return touchdown (96 yards) by a rookie in franchise history (MERCURY MORRIS, 105 yards, Sept. 14, 1969).

Will Fuller, Houston Texans

Became the fourth rookie in the past 15 seasons to record both a touchdown catch and a punt-return touchdown in the same game in a Week 4 victory over Tennessee.

Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs

Scored on a three-yard run, a three-yard reception and an 86-yard kickoff-return in Week 12 and became the first player since GALE SAYERS in 1965 to have a rushing, receiving and kickoff-return touchdown in the same game.

Marqise Lee, Jacksonville Jaguars

In Week 15, recorded a 100-yard kickoff-return touchdown and became the second player in franchise history to record a 100+ yard kickoff-return touchdown, joining MAURICE JONES-DREW (100 yards, Nov. 4, 2007).

Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings

Led the NFL with a 31.7 kickoff-return average, including a 104-yard kickoff-return touchdown in Week 11. His four career 100+ yard touchdowns is an NFL record.

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