8. DeAndre Hopkins– Two guys down. Another player to be revealed today. He’s become a dominant, yet quiet star in the game. The debate on wide receivers can so many ways today. When he’s in the right frame of mind, Antonio Brown was the best in the league. A guy in New Orleans named Michael Thomas has made a case. Or, is it the guy that plays in Houston? You can truly go either way. For the third straight year, Deandre Hopkins has made my list! He checks in as my eighth best player in the NFL right now and my second-ranked wide receiver.
I remember a play a few years ago when the Houston Texans were playing the Jacksonville Jaguars. Deandre had Jalen Ramsey on him as expected. Jalen is a phenomenal corner. But one on one against Hopkins? That’s tough! Even for the elite cover corners! What doesn’t this guy catch? His catch radius is out of this world. It doesn’t matter where he is. Down the field, over the middle, in traffic, in the redzone, he’s coming away with the football. His release at the line of scrimmage is special. Those quick feet allow him to get separation. The concentration he displays is one of a kind. If it’s a 50-50 ball, it’s his. He knows how to position himself to make the best play.
He put together a year where he caught 115 passes without a single drop in 2018. Last season was different. He still caught 104 passes and scored seven touchdowns. He’s more physical than he’s given credit for. What I admire is his play is just as big as his talking. In March, he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals for David Johnson. Something that nobody saw coming.
