6. DeAndre Hopkins

Team: Houston Texans

Position: WR

Experience: 6 Years

Simply put, DeAndre Hopkins is the best wide receiver in the NFL. Debate if you want but the job of the receiver is to catch passes and last season, Hopkins did not drop a single ball. That’s right, he was thrown 115 catchable passes last year and he finished with 115 receptions. He was an offense all to himself. No matter how opponents chose to defend him if the ball was within his catch radius it was going to come down in his possession. Hopkins has gotten better each season and it is scary to think what the next step in his progression will be.

Even before Andrew Luck decided to retire, the Houston Texans were considered a team that not only could win the AFC South but also be a threat to the New England Patriots in the AFC. Part of the reason is the connection that Hopkins and Deshaun Watson have developed. Their production is equal to or better than any other quarterback and wide receiver duo currently in the league. Capitalizing on this pair is important, As long as both remain healthy this franchise will surely be in the discussion for the playoffs.

For his part, Hopkins is truly a complete receiver. He can run a complete route tree. He has the speed to burst past taller cornerbacks and the size to jump over smaller cornerbacks. Unless he lines up against an All-Pro defensive back (sometimes even that isn’ enough) you can pencil him in with a catch if Houston runs a passing play. If the team success can match the stats that Hopkins routinely puts up then by this time next year he could be the clear-cut answer for the question of who’s the best wideout in the NFL.

He’s coming off of back-to-back First-Team All-Pro selections and looks on the path to repeat everything we saw from him last season. The Texans have added Will Fuller V and Keke Coutee to their receiver room in hopes of opening the field for Hopkins even more. However, the two of them have rarely been able to stay on the field as they have piled up injury after injury over the course of their short times in the league to date. If the supporting pieces are available Hopkins overall numbers may dip some but he could be even more efficient–if it is even possible to be more efficient than not dropping a single pass.

At the end of the day, regardless of who’s out there with him and who’s throwing him the ball, Hopkins has the talent to dominate. He has done just that over the last two seasons. If he continues, there’s a chance that his name will land even higher on this list when it comes out next year.