Fantasy Football Player Notes

DeAndre Hopkins missed the first six games of the season due to suspension and the final two weeks with a knee sprain, but when he was on the field, he proved he hadn't hit the age cliff yet. Hopkins is entering his age-31 season and could be playing for a new team in 2023, but there's reason to think he still has at least one top-flight season left. Hopkins was the WR9 in fantasy points per game last season, drawing a 29.4% target share (fourth-best) and 43.5% air-yard share (second-best). Hopkins can still draw volume with the best of them, but his efficiency did tick down a bit as he was 17th in yards per route run and 35th in open rate (tied with Christian Kirk, per ESPN analytics). Hopkins' 2023 prospects are muddied until we know his home for the upcoming season, but expecting WR2 production out of him isn't insane.

DeAndre Hopkins could be on the move this offseason which means Marquise Brown could revisit his 2022 early-season usage. In Weeks 1-6, he was the WR7 in fantasy as he saw elite alpha-level love. He had a 26% target share, a 40.5% air yard share, and 2.00 yards per route run. Brown proved up to the task of operating as Arizona's number one receiving option. He was 24th in open rate last year, immediately behind Jakobi Meyers (per ESPN analytics). Brown is a WR2 currently that could rise more once Hopkins is moved. Consider him a high-end number two option with the possibility of more in 2023.