The DeAndre Hopkins trade from the Tennessee Titans to the Kansas City Chiefs is a big shake-up in the world of fantasy football. Drafted as the third wide receiver in only two weeks (after Davante Adams and Amari Cooper), Hopkins fantasy owners can only hope. It has been a rough season so far but perhaps this will be the jump start that is needed.
DeAndre Hopkins Fantasy Outlook After Being Traded to Chiefs
This year has presented a less than ideal scenario for Hopkins in terms of fantasy performance. There have been more weeks where he has recorded less than two fantasy points than weeks with double-digit points. This primarily can be attributed to the Tennessee Titans’ passing offense, which has proven to be the worst in the league in terms of points per game.
Those who have been rostering Hopkins this season have undoubtedly experienced frustration. His statistics through seven weeks have placed him in a borderline droppable category. However, with his recent move to Kansas City, Hopkins now has an opportunity to start anew.
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The Struggles in Tennessee
Hopkins’ performance in Tennessee has been far from outstanding. Entering Week 8, he ranked as the WR78 in PPR formats, largely due to a lackluster Titans offense that has struggled significantly. With only one standout game, where he scored 19.3 points, his overall average has dropped to a mere 3.9 points per game.
23.3 fantasy points over seven games, with a total of 83 receiving yards on seven catches and no scores in his last three matches.
This dismal performance made him almost replaceable in many leagues.
A Fresh Start in Kansas City
The trade to Kansas City presents a golden opportunity for Hopkins to refresh his career. The Chiefs have been plagued with injuries to wide receivers, Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice, so that would fill an immediate need for a solid target for QB Patrick Mahomes.
Analysts believe that if Hopkins can quickly adapt to the Chiefs’ offensive scheme, he could emerge as one of Mahomes’ primary options, significantly increasing his target share.
Adjusting Fantasy Expectations
While it’s tempting to expect a return to Hopkins’ prime form, it’s crucial to annoy those expectations. Not to mention the fact that he is 32 years old and just coming off a knee injury, he is not likely (no matter how good he is) to repeat his performance from earlier seasons when he averaged just over 1,300 yards and nearly 10 TDs a season.
But with the Chiefs receiving group as depleted as it is, he could come in and be a WR3 or more by the time this season has played out.
Impact on Other Players
The ripple effects throughout the chief’s offense that will come with the acquisition of Hopkins. While he steps into a leading role, it may also enhance the overall performance of other players like Travis Kelce and rookie Xavier Worthy. Kelce is still the center of the offense but with Hopkins drawing more attention, he could see more openings as defenses shift to cover him.
On the other hand, guys like Worthy will have fewer opportunities with Hopkins demanding more balls.
Matchup Against the Raiders
Looking ahead to his first game with Kansas City against the Las Vegas Raiders, factors are working in Hopkins’ favor. The Raiders have given up big yards and touchdowns to wide receivers this year, and that should set up perfectly for Hopkins to make an immediate impact.
But fantasy managers should be wary, even though this matchup looks good on paper, if there isn’t immediate chemistry with Mahomes it could spell disaster.
Long-Term Outlook
As fantasy managers look ahead, it is obvious that Hopkins may not immediately reclaim his elite status, but it is still an improvement from his former circumstances. If he can manage at least 600-750 yards and six or more touchdowns by season’s end, he could become a valuable asset once again.
For whoever has him on their roster or can find him on waivers, this is a good time to bring him back to your starting lineup.
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Conclusion
To sum it all up, the DeAndre Hopkins trade to the Kansas City Chiefs is a double-edged sword. Although he may no longer be the dominant force he once was, a change in scenery could mean better numbers for fantasy. For fantasy football enthusiasts, keeping an eye on his performance over the next few weeks will be crucial in determining his value as we head deeper into the season.
