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The Kansas City Chiefs are finalizing a blockbuster trade for Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in exchange for a fifth-round pick that can turn into a fourth-round pick, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport on October 23.
Hopkins, 32, has been named a first-team All-Pro three times during his 12-year NFL career and second-team All-Pro twice. He’s also a five-time Pro Bowler.
Over the course of his career, Hopkins, who stands at 6-foot-1 and weighs 212 pounds, has averaged 95 receptions, 1,268 yards, and eight touchdowns per season, according to Pro Football Reference.
DeAndre Hopkins Will Bolster Injury-Riddled Chiefs WR Room
With veteran receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster being the most recent Chiefs wideout to sustain an injury that will force him to miss time, Kansas City was in desperate need of WR help heading into Week 8. The two-time defending Super Bowl champions are the only undefeated team left in the NFL and have a three-peat in their crosshairs, so general manager Brett Veach made a big splash to help improve the offense.
Hopkins is added to a Chiefs receiver room that includes Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, Mecole Hardman, and Skyy Moore.
According to Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated, Hopkins has “roughly” $5.3 million left in prorated base salary for the 2024 season.
“My understanding is the Titans are expected to take on half his salary to make the deal work with the Chiefs,” Verderame wrote on X on October 23.
As for the fantasy impact on Kansas City, quarterback Patrick Mahomes gets a big boost from the trade. Through seven weeks Mahomes was the QB22 overall in total fantasy points (89.9), according to FantasyPros. Once Hopkins gets up to full speed with the Chiefs’ playbook Mahomes should be a high-end QB2/low-end QB1 in fantasy for the rest of the season.
Hopkins gets the biggest fantasy boost, as he was the WR74 overall in fantasy points through seven weeks (38.3). The aging pass-catcher went from borderline unplayable in fantasy when he was with the Titans to a WR2 once he’s up to full speed with the Chiefs.
Tight end Travis Kelce should provide a little bit more consistency moving forward with Hopkins in town. Worthy will continue to be a boom-or-bust play in fantasy due to his limited touches, and Smith-Schuster will be a WR4 once he returns from his hamstring injury.
X Users React to Chiefs Trading for DeAndre Hopkins
Users on X, formerly Twitter, reacted to the Chiefs trading for Hopkins.
“Chiefs flirted with signing DeAndre Hopkins in 2023. Was too pricey at the time. And this time around, they didn’t want to give up a Top 100 pick—but knew they had a WR need,” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer wrote. “Rashee Rice done for the year. Hollywood Brown’s hopes for a playoff return are slim. So here we are.”
“As far as his fantasy value is concerned, DeAndre Hopkins just landed in the best spot possible via trade,” ESPN’s Field Yates wrote. “It will come as no surprise if he is soon WR1 for Patrick Mahomes with a target share north of 20%. A major boost in value going from Tennessee to KC.”
“Man he is about to have alot of short crossing routes. And key 3rd down possessions. All those short intermediate routes they use for [Travis] Kelce will go to Hop. I hate the Chiefs,” one person wrote.
“The good news is Deandre Hopkins isn’t the top 3-5 WR that he once was (and hasn’t been for a few years). The bad news is the chiefs are the new age patriots and that doesn’t matter so he’ll produce and make big time plays for them anyways,” another person wrote.
“8 hours later and DeAndre Hopkins is on the Kansas City Chiefs,” another person wrote. “Chiefs bringing in Kareem Hunt, JuJu, DeAndre Hopkins and 6-0. People may say he’s washed up, but Kareem Hunt was on his couch and JuJu did virtually nothing and had a 120 yard game before getting hurt. Situations and systems you are in matter.
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