Is DeAndre Hopkins The WR1 For the Chiefs? Fantasy Football Outlook (2024)

Will DeAndre Hopkins be the WR1 for the Kansas City Chiefs when he returns? John Johnson breaks down the the DeAndre Hopkins situation and fantasy football outlook.

The Kansas City Chiefs just acquired wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (lower leg) in a trade with the Tennessee Titans in a move that's sure to shake up the pass-catching landscape for the defending Super Bowl champions. Hopkins has a long history of elite play at the WR position.

He'll attempt to bolster an offense that lost it's primary receiver, Rashee Rice (knee) to a season-ending knee injury that he picked up when Patrick Mahomes II dove at a defender, whiffed, and collided with his leg. Nuk's role has yet to be determined, but it seems that Kansas City didn't have much confidence in his current corps.

So will DeAndre Hopkins be the WR1 for the Kansas City Chiefs when he takes the field for them for the first time?

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Is DeAndre Hopkins The WR1 For the Chiefs?

It's likely that he'll be at least a de-facto WR1 to start. Rookie WR Xavier Worthy hasn't been productive with any consistency and JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring), who looked primed to take over Rice's role as the lead WR, re-aggravated a hamstring injury in Week 7. He will not return to play in Week 8 -- head coach Andy Reid confirmed he will be out.

🚨 UPDATE 🚨#Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster’s hamstring injury might linger for 'quite a while’.

Per, @ByNateTaylor on @TheFan965.@FourGuysInABar @TalkPrimeTime @BowTieSports_18 @ChiefsInsider pic.twitter.com/FVv5mo1Xx4

— Chiefs Blitz (@ChiefsBlitz) October 22, 2024

With the rookie's ineffectiveness and the former Pittsburgh Steeler set to miss some time, the now former Titan will slot in and be the WR1. Kansas City's roster is full of highly ineffective and inefficient receivers, and Worthy's inability to beat press coverage precludes him from being the WR1.

I know Patrick Mahomes missed him for a touchdown on the play before but these are the plays that make Xavier Worthy exasperating. Put hands on him and the play is instantly over pic.twitter.com/LOtwvxvrax

— Derrik Klassen (@QBKlass) October 22, 2024

As a fantasy manager, it's important to remember that the future Hall of Fame quarterback with three Super Bowl wins probably shouldn't be the first person to blame when he fails to connect with a rookie receiver a few times. DHop will provide a reliable, steady veteran presence.

DeAndre Hopkins Fantasy Football Outlook

He should immediately be a target hog as long as Smith-Schuster can't play. Expect him to fill in the Rice role, which will involve plenty of quick targets and run-after-catch opportunities. He should be the primary chain-mover for this offense, and his wealth of experience playing at a high level means he shouldn't need much time to adjust.

Everyone thinks of DeAndre Hopkins as this outside ball-winner. But he’s also effective at finding soft spots in coverage and/or racking up yards after the catch. Expect the Chiefs to use him just like Rashee/JuJu at times. pic.twitter.com/8XI5Bu9nbJ

— Adam Best (@Arrowhead_Adam) October 23, 2024

The team is in desperate need of a receiver who can be a reliable presence and be on the same page as Mahomes. Nuk should provide that. He's played for a ton of quarterbacks now and knows how to integrate himself into new offenses. His upside might not be sky-high, but he's worth starting as a WR3/FLEX for now.

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