Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has been named Pro Football Focus’ best wide receiver and offensive player for 2018.
The two-time All-Pro caught 115 passes for 1,572 yards and 11 touchdowns. The receptions tied Andre Johnson for the single-season high in Texans franchise history.
The former Clemson Tiger has been a perennial fixture in the Texans lineup for the past six seasons and the ideal replacement for future Hall of Famer Andre Johnson who retired in 2017.
The 26-year old has formed a dangerous tandem alongside quarterback Deshaun Watson who was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2018.
Not only did PFF name Hopkins the Best Receiver and Offensive Player, but ranked him second in their top 101 players of the year, behind NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald of the LA Rams. When explaining their decision, PFF had the following to say on Hopkins:
It clearly didn’t matter where he lined up, where he was targeted or whether he had to fight for the ball or not, Hopkins was in a class of his own this season, and it all led to the NFL’s highest overall (92.0) and receiving grade (92.2) at the position. His 115 catchable targets without a drop not only set the PFF record, but it also crushed the previous record of 60 held by Randall Cobb that he set back in 2016.
Hopkins was able to earn the offensive player of the year award as virtually the Texans’ lone receiving threat. In 2019, with receiver Will Fuller coming back healthy to take away the heat, Hopkins has a good chance to repeat.
