Week 7 vs. Houston Texans
DeAndre Hopkins only caught three balls for 55 yards last week against the Browns, but he did catch two touchdowns. Hopkins has been surprisingly very touchdown-dependent this season. Luckily, he has six, but he hasn’t eclipsed 100 yards or six receptions in any one game.
This week, Hopkins faces a Texans defense that ranks 7th in aFPA to opposing wide receivers. He’s a must-start since he gets consistent targets and is one of the best receivers in the game. He seems like he must be due for a big outing at some point, and his talent and role in the offense still give him a high floor. Start him.
Week 6 at Cleveland Browns
DeAndre Hopkins had six catches for 87 yards and a touchdown last week against the 49ers. Hopkins has been fine, and has four touchdowns on the season, but he hasn’t really put up Hopkins-style numbers, considering where he was drafted in fantasy leagues. The Cardinals have been spreading the ball around, and it’s hard to figure out which Arizona pass-catcher to bank on. That being said, Hopkins is still starter material, he’s just had a tempered stat line compared to what we usually expect, averaging a modest 4.6 catches, 62.4 yards and 0.8 touchdowns per game so far.
This week, Hopkins faces a Browns defense that ranks 16th in aFPA to opposing wide receivers. However, they were just in a shootout with the Chargers, where Mike Williams ate them alive. The Cardinals have a prolific offense and this should be another exciting offensive game. We have Hopkins ranked as a low-end WR1 option this week and he should be active in all formats.
Week 5 vs. San Francisco 49ers
DeAndre Hopkins had four catches for 67 yards last week in a victory over the Rams. He’s been held in check the last couple of weeks, but he still led the team in targets and is still an elite receiver. It’s a little concerning for fantasy managers with Hopkins that Kyler Murray seems to be so good at spreading the ball around, but you have to think Hopkins is still going to produce.
This week, Hopkins faces a 49ers defense that ranks 13th in aFPA to opposing wide receivers. While they have secondary issues, their pass rush is solid enough and Arizona’s proclivity to use multiple receivers puts Hopkins down around WR2 territory in our rankings. You’re not sitting him, but temper expectations a bit this week.
Week 4 at Los Angeles Rams
DeAndre Hopkins gutted it out last week despite being hampered by a rib injury. Not sure how much the injury impacted him, but he was limited to just three catches on six targets for 21 yards. That was despite playing 91% of the snaps, so it’s possible the ribs were a factor. Monitor his status closely going into next week.
This week, assuming he’s active, he has a tough task against the Rams. While the Rams rank 25th in aFPA to opposing wide receivers, Hopkins will likely draw Jalen Ramsey, and these two have had some battles against each other. Last year, Ramsey got the better of Hopkins, allowing just 12 catches, 87 yards and a touchdown over two games. You probably aren’t in a situation where you’d want to sit Hopkins, but if you have another option with fewer health concerns and a better matchup, it might be worth considering. We have him ranked as a WR2 this week, based on health and the matchup.
Week 3 at Jacksonville Jaguars
DeAndre Hopkins was a little bit outshined by rookie Rondale Moore last week against the Vikings, but his 54 yards and a touchdown on four receptions were nothing to sneeze at. Hopkins now has three touchdowns through two games and the Cardinals look like an offensive to be reckoned with moving forward.
This week, Hopkins faces a Jaguars defense that gave up solid numbers to both Brandin Cooks and Courtland Sutton the last two weeks. Expect another high-powered offensive performance from Arizona, and for Hopkins to be a prime beneficiary. He’s a must-start every week, and this matchup especially should be a lucrative one for him.
Week 2 vs. Minnesota Vikings
DeAndre Hopkins had a great start to the season, catching six of eight targets for 83 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a lopsided victory over the Titans. Hopkins should once again be near the top of the league in targets and he looked to be in prime form last week.
Hopkins should keep rolling against a Vikings’ defense that got torched by Ja’Marr Chase last week and ranked 24th in aFPA to opposing wide receivers in 2020. They also allowed a touchdown to Tee Higgins. Hopkins isn’t a player you should ever sit, but that’s especially the case this week, where we have him ranked in the top five among wide receivers.
Week 1 at Tennessee Titans
DeAndre Hopkins was as-advertised in his first season in Arizona, finishing second in the league with 160 targets, and tied for second with 115 receptions. He had 1,407 yards and was the clear favorite target of quarterback Kyler Murray. This year, fantasy managers are hoping to see him score more than six touchdowns, but the potential is there in what should be a high-powered offense.
The Titans really struggled defensively last year and ranked 29th in aFPA to opposing wide receivers. That should bode well for Hopkins to find room to start the season. You drafted him to be your WR1, and in a nice matchup, I’d expect him to deliver. Start him.
Fantasy Upside
Since 2013, the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference annually has given the Alpha Award for the best transaction in sports. An NFL transaction never had won the award for "Best Sports Transaction of the Year" until this year, when the Cardinals' acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins was deemed the best transaction of the year in all of sports. This comes as no surprise to fantasy managers who benefited from Hopkins' first season in Arizona playing alongside Kyler Murray. The Cardinals acquired Hopkins and a 2020 fourth-round in exchange for running back David Johnson, a 2020 second-round pick and a 2021 fourth-round pick. It could end up ranking as one of the most lopsided deals in NFL history. In his first season with the Cardinals, Hopkins earned his fifth Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors and established a single-season franchise record with 115 receptions (on a whopping 160 targets). He tied for second in the NFL in both catches and 100-yard games (seven) while his 1,407 receiving yards ranked third in the league.
Fantasy Downside
Hopkins' game-winning touchdown catch in the closing seconds against Buffalo -- the "Hail Murray" play -- was selected as the 2020 Clutch Performance Play of the Year at NFL Honors in February. But if you're looking to nitpick Hopkins, his overall touchdown production (Hopkins finished with six scoring grabs) left something to be desired. In addition, Murray was slowed by injuries late last season and Hopkins' production declined during that span. But looking for downside here is essentially an exercise in predicting another low touchdown and/or injury issues. There's not a lot of concern here beyond that.
2021 Bottom Line
Hopkins has proven over multiple seasons with multiple quarterbacks to be virtually unstoppable. Over the past four seasons, he has 430 catches, 5,522 receiving yards and 37 touchdowns. Arizona should continue to field a strong offense with the addition of A.J. Green on the other side of the formation. Expect more heavy usage and high-end production again this year.
Week 17 at Los Angeles Rams
DeAndre Hopkins only had 48 yards last week against the 49ers as the Cardinals' offense struggled. He still caught eight balls, however, salvaging an otherwise dismal fantasy day in PPR formats. Hopkins also had 12 targets, his fourth consecutive game with double-digit targets. He remains one of the best wide receivers in the game, and the volume sent his way makes him an elite fantasy option. He has 111 receptions for 1,372 yards, with one game remaining.
This week, Hopkins has a tough matchup against the Rams, who rank first in aFPA to opposing wide receiver and feature a lockdown corner in Jalen Ramsey. If you have Hopkins, you’re starting him, but downgrade him to fringe WR1 territory instead of the automatic must-start he usually is.
Week 16 vs. San Francisco 49ers
DeAndre Hopkins is a monster. He caught nine balls for 169 yards and a wildly impressive touchdown last week in a victory over the Eagles. He also had 11 targets, the seventh time this season he’s had double-digit targets in a game. Hopkins only has six touchdowns this year, but he’s otherwise been an elite fantasy receiver all year.
This week, he faces a 49ers defense that ranks 15th in aFPA to opposing wide receivers. He caught 14 balls when he faced them in Week 1, and that was a healthier defense. Start him regardless of matchup as a WR1 every week.
