PFF ranks Cardinals’ DeAndre Hopkins a top-20 player in the NFL

Since the moment he landed in Arizona, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has improved the Cardinals’ aerial attack.

In 2019, the Cardinals offense put up 3,797 total receiving yards and added 355 receptions as a team.

This past season, Arizona put up 4,102 receiving yards and caught 387 receptions.

Heading into the 2021 season, Pro Football Focus ranked the 50 best players in the NFL and the Cardinals’ receiver came in as the 17th best player in the league.

New team. New quarterback. Same old dominant performances from DeAndre Hopkins. His signature play was a phenomenal catch on a Hail Mary where he outjumped multiple defenders to come down with an improbable touchdown, but Hopkins was also the second-leading receiver in the league in terms of yardage and generated 2.25 yards per route run despite a very predictable alignment pattern and an average depth of target of just 9.0 yards.

Green Bay’s Davante Adams was the only other wide receiver ahead of Hopkins, coming in at number five.

In his first year in a Cardinals uniform, Hopkins had the second-most receiving yards (1,407) in the league and was tied second for the most receptions (115) amongst all wide receivers in 2020.

Only Bills’ receiver Stefon Diggs had more receptions (127) and receiving yards (1,535) than Hopkins last season.

It was the fourth time in Hopkins career where he caught at least 100 receptions and the sixth season in which he had over 1,100 receiving yards.

Rounding out the top five players in Pro Football Focus’ top 50 players was LA Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce, Colts guard Quenton Nelson and Packers receiver Adams.

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