DeAndre Hopkins has been one of the NFL’s best WRs for the better part of the last decade.
He’s been the WR10 in PPR points per game among all receivers to play at least 16 games from 2013 to 2022. You don’t need more than two hands to count the number of WRs better than Hopkins in the post-Moss era.
While the best days are probably in the rear-view mirror, considering Hopkins turns 31 next week and he posted middling efficiency numbers in 2022 relative to his usual excellence, Nuk’s sudden status as a free agent has still understandably resulted in plenty of reported interest:
- ESPN’s Adam Schefter narrowed down Hopkins’ list to the Chiefs, Bills, Patriots and Browns, noting that Kansas City makes the most sense.
- Texans beat writer Brooks Kupena said Hopkins is interested in returning to Houston based on news from “a person with knowledge of the situation.”
- The Athletic’s Zac Jackson noted: “Deshaun Watson said he regularly talks to Hopkins and has long considered him a brother, so we can assume a private full-court press is taking place.”
Of course, the eventual landing spot will have a big impact on Hopkins’ current WR19 ADP over at Underdog Fantasy.
The following list ranks these five reported landing spots in order of Hopkins’ projected 2023 fantasy upside.
🏹 1. Kansas City Chiefs
The WR room is wide open — and while there isn’t a bigger TE target hog in the league than Travis Kelce — there remains more than enough pass-game volume to go around inside an offense that just led the league in passing yards and TDs.
A middling season wouldn’t make Hopkins the team’s first high-priced free agent to not exactly put up bonkers fantasy numbers (looking at you, Sammy Watkins and Marquez Valdes-Scantling). Still, the partnership with Patrick Mahomes, maybe the best QB … ever, is simply too enticing to rank anywhere but in the top spot.
Projected rank: WR12
🐶 2. Cleveland Browns
The Browns get the second-place nod thanks to Hopkins’ proven production alongside Deshaun Watson.
Consider: Hopkins had a full 56 additional targets than any other player in the league (!) while working with Watson from 2017 to 2020.
While none of the other four options have the same potential for Hopkins to 1.) Immediately work as the offense’s No. 1 pass-game option (with all due respect to Amari Cooper), and 2.) Receive something resembling top-tier QB play, Watson’s on-field performance was rough enough in 2022 to drop Cleveland to second.
Projected rank: WR14
🐃 3. Buffalo Bills
No offense has more expected PPR points per game at WR over the past three seasons. There’s certainly boom upside inside of a pass-happy attack led by Josh freaking Allen.
Of course, Stefon Diggs is the no-doubt No. 1 WR in Buffalo, and the week-to-week passing game floor simply isn’t quite as high as in Kansas City.
Picking between the Browns and Bills is truly difficult; I’m just slightly siding with the idea that Hopkins would have an easier time overtaking Cooper for No. 1 WR duties than Diggs.
Projected rank: WR16
😧 4. New England Patriots
Yes, Hopkins enjoyed some productive years alongside new Patriots OC Bill O’Brien during their time together in Houston.
Also, yes, don’t assume Jones will be O’Brien’s next Watson as opposed to his next Brian Hoyer or Brock Osweiler or Tom Savage or T.J. Yates or Ryan Mallett.
Projected rank: WR27
😬 5. Houston Texans
A reunion would be great news for C.J. Stroud’s early-career development, and no offense has more vacated targets or air yards.
Of course, even the addition of Hopkins would still leave the Texans as a likely bottom-10 scoring offense — something that has not been good to fantasy WRs over the years.
Projected rank: WR29
Looking to draft Hopkins before he finds a new home? You can draft him on Underdog Fantasy, where you can also get a 100% deposit match of up to $100! Sign up below and start drafting today!
