Game-By-Game Projections: DeAndre Hopkins (2020 Fantasy Football)

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Below are the game-by-game projections for DeAndre Hopkins. These projections are a combination of my yearly projection models, Vegas win totals, and defensive matchups. My wide receiver projections as a whole expect a bounce-back for the position compared to some down numbers in 2019. Let’s take a look at his per-game expectations in 2020. 

You can find our entire 2020 Player Game-By-Game Projection series here.

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Week 1: at San Francisco 49ers
Still trying to shake off the rust from a shortened offseason with his new team, Hopkins makes a weak first impact against the reigning NFC champions. Their league-best front four simply doesn’t give Kyler Murray enough time to let routes develop.

Predicted stat line: 5 receptions, 42 receiving yards, 0 receiving TD (6.7 fantasy points)

Week 2: vs Washington Redskins
A home matchup with Washington’s secondary is a nice ice-breaker to get things rolling. Hopkins reels in his first score with his new team, and the Red Sea rejoices.

Predicted stat line: 6 reception, 87 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD (17.7 fantasy points)

Week 3: vs Detroit Lions
Back-to-back home games and prime matchups allow Hopkins’ talent to shine through. He posts nearly 30 fantasy points against the defense that allowed the second-most points to wide receivers last year. 

Predicted stat line: 9 receptions, 132 receiving yards, 2 receiving TD (29.7 fantasy points)

Week 4: at Carolina Panthers
Hopkins gets spoiled with some of the league’s most fantasy-friendly matchups to start the year, and the production continues against a Panthers defense in the middle of a massive overhaul. The Panthers literally spent every pick of the draft on defense, trying to fill holes left from the offseason, so one of the best receivers in the game will have his way with them.

Predicted stat line: 6 receptions, 95 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD (18.5 fantasy points)

Week 5: at New York Jets
The gorgeous matchups keep rolling against the Jets. The Cardinals win handily thanks to Hopkins decimating their secondary.

Predicted stat line:  8 receptions, 106 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD (20.6 fantasy points)

Week 6: at Dallas Cowboys
With the Cowboys losing cornerback Byron Jones, you would think Hopkins would have a field day here. But let’s not forget the Cardinals didn’t exactly supercharge their poor offensive line in the offseason. The Cowboys’ fierce front finds Murray early and often, forcing him to scramble and make quick throws.

Predicted stat line: 5 receptions, 59 receiving yards, 0 receiving TD (8.4 fantasy points)

Week 7: vs Seattle Seahawks
The battle of birds leads to an aerial attack on both sides of the ball. The Cardinals fall short, but Hopkins still serves justice to his fantasy bottom line by putting up 17 points with a score.

Predicted stat line: 6 receptions, 81 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD (17.1 fantasy points)

Week 8: BYE

Week 9: vs Miami Dolphins
Sure, the Dolphins got the aforementioned Byron Jones, but the Dolphins have about a million new faces, coaches, schemes, and rookies all over their squad. I’m betting the Cardinals’ Air Raid offense moves Hopkins around enough to avoid full-time coverage from Jones. However, if Jones locks onto him all game, expect this stat line to go very differently.

Predicted stat line: 10 receptions, 156 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD (26.6 fantasy points)

Week 10: vs Buffalo Bills
While I am unsure of the Dolphins’ plans for Jones, we already know how the Bills utilize star corner Tre’Davius White, and that is locked on coverage to a team’s top option. Hopkins suffers his worst game of the year as a result.

Predicted stat line: 3 receptions, 38 receiving yards, 0 receiving TD (5.3 fantasy points)

Week 11: at Seattle Seahawks
Traveling to face the 12th Man in Seattle isn’t a matchup many relish. He comes away with stats that are below his season average, yet still respectable.

Predicted stat line: 7 receptions, 62 receiving yards, 0 receiving TD (9.7 fantasy points)

Week 12: at New England Patriots
Similar to when he faced White and the Bills, the Patriots and Stephon Gilmore will be no picnic. Hopkins squeaks away with nine points in one of his toughest matchups of the season.

Predicted stat line: 5 receptions, 65 receiving yards, 0 receiving TD (9.0 fantasy points)

Week 13: vs Los Angeles Rams
Jalen Ramsey and company won’t be enough to completely slow down Hopkins. While Aaron Donald absolutely demolishes the Cards’ offensive line, Hopkins is able to get open quickly enough to still make a substantial impact.

Predicted stat line: 6 reception, 92 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD (18.2 fantasy points)

Week 14: at New York Giants
In what has been a pretty down streak compared to the start of the year, Hopkins explodes against the defense that allowed the fifth-most points to receivers last season. The Cardinals are desperately seeking wins in hopes of a playoff berth, so they summon a heavy dose of their best offensive weapon.

Predicted stat line: 8 receptions, 133 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD (23.3 fantasy points)

Week 15: vs Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles’ poor secondary gets lit up by Hopkins with ease in this week’s matchup. The Eagles have no one close to being capable of containing Hopkins, and it shows with a flashy stat line.

Predicted stat line: 9 receptions, 129 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD (23.4 fantasy points)

Week 16: vs San Francisco 49ers
It’s been a long time since these two teams saw each other in Week 1, but the 49ers are still a great defense facing a poor offensive line. It’s tough to get an effective quarterback-receiver rhythm when the opponent is constantly in your backfield. The result is yet another nine-point game.

Predicted stat line: 6 receptions, 66 receiving yards, 0 receiving TD (9.6 fantasy points)

Week 17: at Los Angeles Rams
The Cardinals have no room to work in the run game against Donald and Co. again, which leads to more work for Hopkins for a second time against the Rams. He finishes his 2019 season with a nice game.

Predicted stat line: 6 receptions, 78 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD (16.8 fantasy points)

Week-by-Week Recap

 
Wideouts on new teams tend to have down years from their career average, but I am betting a few things helping Hopkins remain a top-five option in 2020. The first is Kliff Kingsbury’s Air Raid offense. What Hopkins loses in terms of accuracy and efficiency from Deshaun Watson, he gains in volume and scheme in Arizona.

Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Kyler Murray hasn’t had a receiving option close to the caliber of Hopkins yet, and I imagine he’ll fall in love with targeting him an average of 10-11 times a game. The end result is another elite finish from an elite talent.

Thanks for reading and stay golden! If you like what you learned, follow me @DavidZach16 for more interesting stats and tidbits throughout the year.

You can find our entire 2020 Player Game-By-Game Projection series here.

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