DeAndre

Hopkins

Speaking on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Hopkins was refreshingly honest about what his role will look like going forward. He said, “I know in my position, I’m a utility guy. I’m a special situation kind of guy. I can go out there and beat anybody one-on-one at any time, but as of lately, I’ve been a third-down guy.” Hopkins added that he could also see extra work in the red zone. Entering his 14th year, Hopkins is indeed mostly a part-time player. He appeared in all 17 games for the Ravens last year and totaled just 330 yards. The Ravens credited him with three starts. Hopkins will likely sign with a contender at some point this summer, but his days as a fantasy contributor appear to be over.

He cautions that there’s still a possibility the Ravens address the position late in free agency, as Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Deebo Samuel, and DeAndre Hopkins remain available. Still, he has the experience edge over the two rookie receivers and barring an injury stash situation it’s hard to understand the Ravens not keeping two players they just drafted. Considering Lamar Jackson’s history and the potential upside in Declan Doyle’s offense, Walker is an interesting buy in fantasy at this point — it’s just hard to make the case that he’s got a real floor.

Hopkins, 33, spent last season playing for Burrow’s AFC North rival Ravens. He posted a 22/330/2 receiving line. Hopkins is no longer an elite wide receiver, but he could be helpful for Burrow in fantasy, potentially operating as the team’s WR4. Unfortunately, Over The Cap lists the Bengals with the fourth-lowest salary cap space. Perhaps Hopkins will be willing to take a low-cost deal to play with Burrow.

Diggs is perhaps the biggest-name player still available in free agency, and Pelissero groups him with Deebo Samuel, DeAndre Hopkins, and Keenan Allen as wideouts who are waiting on the outskirts and probably can’t do better than a one-year, $5 million-type contract at this point. Pelissero points to the compensatory picks formula and notes that interest in these players may pick up closer to the draft.

Hopkins’ only target was a miss as the wideout and Lamar Jackson miscommunicated, with the wideout assuming Lamar Jackson was going to dump the ball off and Jackson instead trying to lead Hopkins further downfield with his throw on the run. The 33-year-old was once among the best wideouts in the game, but is just an afterthought at this stage of his career. He could be back with Baltimore if he’s comfortable with this role. Time comes for us all.

Hopkins got a target in the end zone from Tyler Huntley that wasn’t partciularly close. The Ravens’ passing game did almost nothing in this contest, but didn’t need to with Derrick Henry scoring four times and rushing for 216 yards. Hopkins likely will have a similiar amount of chances in Week 18 against the Steelers even if Lamar Jackson (back) returns to action.

Not one of Hopkins’ four catches was routine as the veteran receiver made several spectacular grabs throughout. Arguably the most impressive was a ball down the sideline that deflected off the defenders hands, which he corralled in time to drag the trailing foot as he headed to the ground. Hopkins doesn’t play enough snaps for the low volume Ravens to warrant weekly fantasy consideration.

Hopkins has run nine or fewer routes in five games this season, and tied a season-low in Week 14’s loss to the Steelers when he ran a whole seven routes. It would seem that more snaps and routes would go a long way in getting Hopkins more involved with the offense, but we can’t be too sure. Hopkins hasn’t seen more than four targets in any game this season, and last topped 50 yards in Week 2. The Ravens have a Week 15 game against the Bengals on tap in what is effectively an elimination game. We’ll see if the Ravens actually get Hopkins more involved, or if this is another meaningless coach quote that falls by the wayside.

Hopkins has seen 11 targets in his last three games and remains an easy fade for fantasy. He broke free in the end zone in the fourth quarter for what would have been an easy touchdown were it not for Lamar Jackson throwing the ball out of play, but it was another forgettable day for Hopkins, who will enter Week 13 sitting on 999 career receptions.

He practiced in full on Friday after a Thursday DNP. Hopkins remains just a FLEX dart throw at this stage of his career and gets massively less appealing if Lamar Jackson (questionable, hamstring) does not play against the Bears in Week 8.