The DeAndre Hopkins for David Johnson trade almost broke the internet. Here are the fantasy football implications of this blockbuster deal.
It was a trade that sent shock waves throughout the entire football world. The Houston Texans traded their best player in wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for declining running back David Johnson. Draft picks were also exchanged, but this move has major fantasy implications for both NFL franchises entering next season. So how much impact are we talking?
The Fantasy Footballers would first celebrate Hopkins coming to their favorite team before really diving into the fantasy football implications from this trade. What Jason Moore and Mike Wright revealed was incredibly interesting and it’s not what we were all expecting.
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While Hopkins has been a fantasy darling in Houston, and he still most likely will be that for the Cardinals, the guys do understand he’s not going to have the same amount of targets in the Arizona offense as he did in Houston. Hopkins is joining a receiving corps with another future Pro Football Hall of Famer in Larry Fitzgerald, as well as a promising young player in Christian Kirk.
Moore added Hopkins’ new quarterback in Arizona has more variance than what he had in Houston. While Kyler Murray looks to be an incredible draft pick for the Cardinals, he’s only entering his second NFL season. Deshaun Watson has emerged as a more reliable commodity in the last few years in Houston. Hopkins’ fantasy production may dip a tad initially, but he’ll be fine.
As for Johnson, he could be an incredibly undervalued running back on your fantasy roster. While he doesn’t have the speed out of the backfield as a runner he once had, Johnson is still excellent as a pass-catcher. Watson saw his two running backs from last year in Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson hit free agency, so there are plenty of passes and carries coming Johnson’s way in 2020.
Ultimately, Hopkins should remain one of the six best fantasy wide receivers next season, but don’t expect the sheer amount of volume he got in Houston with his new team in Arizona. Johnson should have a bigger role in the Houston offense after being replaced by Kenyan Drake in Arizona. He may not longer be a Pro Bowler, but Johnson can still certainly add value to your fantasy team.