DeAndre Hopkins entered the 2019 season with goals, including tallying a career-high 2,000 yards, no drops and beating the NFL record for touchdowns (23).
Through seven games, the Houston Texans wide receiver is not on pace to accomplish those goals.
On the season, Hopkins has 49 receptions for 508 yards and three touchdowns. He also has three drops. At the rate in which he is playing, he will finish the season with 112 receptions for 1,161 yards and seven touchdowns.
Hopkins finished 2018 with 115 receptions for 1,572 yards and 11 touchdowns.
A reason for Hopkins’ statistical demise could be a shift in his role. No longer is he the only receiving threat in Houston’s offense; Deshaun Watson can throw to WR Will Fuller (now injured), WR Kenny Stills, WR Keke Coutee, RB Duke Johnson, TE Darren Fells or TE Jordan Akins.
Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly doesn’t see a shift in his role. In fact, there is no role for him. He is Mr. 99 overall on Madden, after all.
“He’s a great player. That would be his role. He’s a guy that we can count on to go out there and make plays game after game,” said Kelly on Thursday. “He does whatever we ask him to do. Again, I don’t have enough good things to say about him. He’s a warrior on Sundays, that’s for sure.”
However, Kelly will acknowledge that defenses play Hopkins differently.
Some will bracket coverage Hopkins (double-team), others will shadow him with their best cornerback and some, if they dare, will play him as if he is any other receiver. The way defenses play him does dictate their game plan, and subsequently, his role.
“I think different teams are going to have different ways to try to defend him and try to take him away, which sometimes allows us to take advantage of other match-ups on the field,” said Kelly. “Other times they’re going to try and play him one on one, if you will, and we’re relying on him to go win. There’s a variety of different looks that we see because of him and then again, as a coaching staff, it’s up to us to try and take advantage of those match-ups.”
Hopkins’ statistics may be down in 2019. His role may be different with the NFL on notice of his skills. That doesn’t mean he has shown regression. He remains as the focal point for the Texans’ pass offense. If defenses respect him, coaches such as Kelly will exploit that.
