DeAndre Hopkins Has Major Fantasy Football Value With the Titans

DeAndre Hopkins is back for his age-31 season, and he's going to be dawning some new threads.

The three-time All-Pro will be joining the Tennessee Titans after three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. There are a lot of questions surrounding the star receiver and what he'll be able to do on the plus side of 30 with a quarterback who didn't have all too good of a season one year ago.

Let's take a look at DeAndre Hopkins' upcoming season and answer the simple question: can he still go?

DeAndre Hopkins Fantasy Football Projection

Projections via numberFire

2023 Projected Points: 178.52 points
numberFire Positional Projection: WR27
2023 Projected Stats:

• 80.9 receptions
• 122.9 targets
• 1001.3 receiving yards,
• 6.6 receiving TDs

DeAndre Hopkins Fantasy Football Outlook

He's Still Got It

Plain and simple: Nuk still has it -- not that anyone should have doubted him in the first place. However, after serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL's Performance Enhancing Drug Policy, there were doubts by many in terms of what version of Hopkins we were going to see. It was much of the same for the star wideout.

Hopkins played in 9 games, finishing with 64 receptions, 717 receiving yards, and 3 receiving TDs -- all totaling up to 119.7 fantasy points. On a points-per-game basis, Hopkins was the WR11 on the season averaging 13.3 per game, finishing ahead of the likes of Jaylen Waddle and Keenan Allen.

That, mind you, is with a mixture at QB. Kyler Murray was injured in Week 14, after which he received passes from Colt McCoy, Trace McSorley, and David Blough.

Nuk still is that guy, and with a QB who can feed No. 1 receivers who can get open, 2023 should be no different.

The Titans' Offense Can Feed Top Receivers

First things first -- Ryan Tannehill is much better than the QB carousel Hopkins had to endure in the second half of the 2022 season, and he can be the guy to feed Nuk the ball all season long.

A.J. Brown was the top option in the Titans offense for three seasons before being dealt to the Philadelphia Eagles. And as you can imagine, Tannehill found him often. In his three years with the team, Brown finished with 11.9 points per game in his rookie season (Top 30), 14.8 in 2020 (5th-best), and 11.5 in 2021 (Top 25). It's a bit streaky, but it's worth mentioning that Brown had some injury problems in 2021 that kept him limited.

Last season was a lost one for Tannehill and the Titans as a whole. There was no defined top wide receiver, and it showed. And with Derrick Henry the main attraction still of the offense, it should allow Tannehill and Hopkins to take advantage of the decoy.

A difference maker for the offense receiving-wise is what they desperately needed, and they're going to make sure to get him the ball.

Final Verdict: A Safe WR2

DeAndre Hopkins isn't the elite, top option he once was at wide receiver -- and that's okay. However, what he is now is still a starter for fantasy teams.

The days of averaging 17 points per game are gone, but seeing he was just outside the top 10 a season ago in average, there's no doubt he can be a WR2. And at his current average draft position (ADP), he's going as a steal.

numberFire has Hopkins ranked as the WR27 heading into the season, leaving him outside of the top 25 and slotting him more as a WR3/FLEX option instead. That's a chance to nab a guy with the upside of a WR2 later than others are selecting theirs. FantasyPros quickly adjusted to the signing of Hopkins, leaving him ranked as the 20th overall receiver off the board with a 45.7 ADP. Hopkins has a 56.9 ADP in FanDuel's best-ball leagues after receivers like Calvin Ridley and Amari Cooper.

32-year-old wide receivers aren't always putting up big numbers, but Nuk is in the perfect situation to keep it going. He doesn't have the high upside of the receivers that stack up around him, but he has the floor that will settle into lineups really well if you make the right picks elsewhere on your team.

Wait until the right time and enjoy the success that Nuk is likely to bring to your team.

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.