A No. 1, go-to wide receiver is a luxury in the NFL. Only so many teams have one. The same can be said for a true franchise quarterback. Every year, teams spend months and assets galore finding one.
The Houston Texans have both, in Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins, a duo known as one of the NFL’s most feared.
In 2018, Hopkins amassed 115 receptions for 1,572 yards and 11 touchdowns with Watson throwing to him. He earned his second-straight All-Pro nod for his efforts. In 2019, his yardage (745) and touchdown (four) numbers may be down, but his receptions are up (75).
Hopkins, in 2019, has altered his game from fewer bulk yards — he allows Will Fuller and Kenny Stills to do so — to be a true chain-mover and safety valve, often reeling in his 47 first down receptions from the slot.
Hopkins can be that guy for Watson due to their chemistry. They have a clear understanding of their timing, routes and adjustments.
“I see it pre-snap, he sees it pre-snap, post-snap, and we’ll just be on the same page. We just have that chemistry,” said Deshaun Watson on Tuesday. “We just have that communication and we talk about it all the time. We talk about it, we watch film on it, on different looks, different situations and if we have time to get to that second hole or that second window or this look or different looks, we just communicate it.”
The Texans wide-out may not have big-time numbers to boast from the 2019 season as in years prior. However, Hopkins’ is still “that” guy for Houston’s offense. He’s clutch; rarely makes a mishap in a big moment; and is the person Watson looks for at the end of the game, third or fourth quarter.
“He’s just a guy that wants the ball every time, especially in a moment like that where the drive is on the line,” said Watson. “He likes that pressure situation where, like you said, the drive is on the line so we’ve got to keep the chains moving and keep the possession of the ball.”
The killer instinct can define a football player. The Texans, in Watson and Hopkins, have two with that ever-so-valuable intangible. Even better: their chemistry cannot be touched.