DeAndre Hopkins continues to dominate for Texans
The 2017 season has not gone to plan for the Houston Texans. Injuries all across the board have taken a once hopeful season and turned it upside down. Even with the disappointment endured in Houston, the performance of DeAndre Hopkins has not taken a hit.
Hopkins has played with three different quarterbacks this season and has performed well with all three. Whether it has been Deshaun Watson, Tom Savage or T.J. Yates, Hopkins continue to play at a high level. Hopkins has only one bad performance on the season, Week 6 against Cleveland. Hopkins caught two passes on four targets for 19 yards and one touchdown. This will certainly not be the highlight of Hopkins’ season. Aside from this game, Hopkins has been nearly unstoppable.
During the loss to the 49ers on Sunday, Hopkins was able to haul in 11 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Hopkins was able to put together a quality performance while catching passes from two different quarterbacks (Savage and Yates). Hopkins has shown the ability in the past to perform well despite lackluster play from the quarterback position.
Not many players are capable of playing well with multiple quarterbacks lining up under center in the same season. Hopkins is second in receiving yards (1,233) and receptions (88) and first in receiving touchdowns (11). Steelers receiver Antonio Brown leads in yards and receptions but has played all season with the same quarterback, a luxury that Hopkins has not enjoyed.
What is most encouraging about the play of Hopkins is that even in a season that has gone off the rails he continues to perform at the highest level. Houston travels to Jacksonville next week. In Week 1 Hopkins caught 7 passes for 55 yards and one touchdown. With Yates lining up under center, Hopkins has a chance to have a repeat performance. Yates is not the best quarterback in the league but Hopkins has shown time and time again that it does not matter who his quarterback is, he will go out and dominate opposing defenses with relative ease. Domination that should continue for the final three games of the season.