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Rishi Patel's 2020 fantasy football analysis of Rams rookie tight end Brycen Hopkins. Is he a 2020 fantasy football draft sleeper and top dynasty TE target?
The Los Angeles Rams will field a retooled offense sans Todd Gurley II and Brandin Cooks in 2020. Nevertheless, they padded the unit by drafting RB Cam Akers, WR Van Jefferson, and TE Brycen Hopkins in hopes of adding young, fresh members who can be impactful sooner or later.
Hopkins will serve as depth on the squad but will look to elevate his role on the depth chart as soon as possible. For right now, he is ranked 45th on the Rotoballer rookie rankings.
Let's examine his profile to see what value Hopkins could bring to dynasty fantasy teams going forward.
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Profile
Team: Los Angeles Rams
College: Purdue
Height/Weight: 6’4”, 245 lbs
NFL Draft Pick: Round 4, Pick 30
Stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com
Scouting Report
NFL.com predicted Hopkins would go in Round 4 or 5 while Draftwire of USA TODAY predicted a Round 2 or 3 selection for the Purdue tight end. The 23-year-old has great route-running skills and is athletic with size. He plays tough and his big-bodied presence makes him a red-zone threat for QBs to toss the pigskin to. He finished with a 4.66 40-yard dash, which fit right along with his draft prospect counterparts such as Cole Kmet and Stephen Sullivan.
Reliability remains an issue for the Nashville native, as drops and pass-catching woes are hindering the tight end’s production on the field. As a result, Hopkins did not have one 1,000-yard season in four of them at Purdue. His senior season last year was his best as he hit 830 yards receiving. For him to succeed in the NFL, Hopkins will need to improve his catching abilities to truly be a factor for the Rams and fantasy owners.
Fantasy Outlook
Simply put, Hopkins is not fantasy-relevant at all in 2020 and should not be drafted in any type of league. I could end it right there, but let’s look at the current situation in Los Angeles. As a fourth-round pick, Hopkins is entering as the third tight end on the depth chart. He is currently behind Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett.
Higbee had a breakout season in 2019 and is expected to be a great fantasy tight end this upcoming season. The Western Kentucky product notched 69 receptions, 734 yards, 10.6 yards per catch, and three touchdowns, along with 89/632 targets (14.1%). The receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns, and targets were all career-highs. The tight end is also only 27.
Meanwhile, Gerald Everett is a capable second tight end on the team. He compiled 37 receptions, 408 yards, 11 yards per catch, two touchdowns, and 60/632 targets (9.5%). The receptions, yards, and targets were all career-highs for a tight end who will only be 26 to start the 2020 season. Therefore, Brycen Hopkins may likely not see the field much at all this season unless an injury occurs.
Dynasty Outlook
The outlook is a little brighter in dynasty, although he is still a risky proposition. Tyler Higbee recently signed a four-year contract and the earliest he could realistically be cut without costing the team dearly in the salary cap is 2022. Chances are that he will be the TE1 for Goff for the foreseeable future and may block Hopkins from true fantasy relevance.
Gerald Everett, on the other hand, is a free agent after 2020. The Rams were clearly planning ahead for his departure when they selected Hopkins. While Everett could continue to see the field often this season, his dynasty value will take a hit as Hopkins' shoots up once the year wraps up.
Backup tight ends don't often find their way into fantasy lineups, but injuries happen and Hopkins could provide occasional value as a streamer. If nothing else, he is stash-worthy in deeper leagues. If the team commits to 12 increased personnel usage from here on out, Hopkins will have a shot to make an impact, but he isn't slated to be the tight end of the future for the Rams and shouldn't be counted on for too much in dynasty leagues. Treat him as a fourth-round pick in rookie drafts.
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