The Tennessee Titans suffered yet another brutal loss in the Week 2 game against the New York Jets, and while one wide receiver — Calvin Ridley — thrived, another — DeAndre Hopkins — struggled.
Hopkins was an afterthought in the offense for a second straight week, as he saw just two targets that he turned into one catch for nine yards. Meanwhile, Ridley scored twice and led the team in receiving yards with 77.
Their respective outlooks could not be more different right now, but there is hope yet for Hopkins as he enters a Week 3 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
But is there enough hope that he should be in lineups? And is Ridley someone fantasy owners should be rolling out on Sunday? Let's discuss.
Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Deandre Hopkins
Hopkins' outlook is not good. Not only is he playing through a sprained MCL, he also isn't producing after tallying two catches for 17 yards over two games. He has only seen three targets and has played just 35% of snaps in that span.
Head coach Brian Callahan offered some good news on Wednesday, saying he needs to get Hopkins more involved. And, we saw Hopkins' snap count go up in Week 2, which hopefully means the veteran will continue to see that rise.
#Titans Brian Callahan said it's on him to get DeAndre Hopkins the ball more and maximize the snaps he's on the field. Callahan acknowledged that Hopkins has been the primary read on some plays but said things dictate going elsewhere. pic.twitter.com/C7VX8QJagH
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) September 18, 2024
But until we see him actually produce, Hopkins should be kept on the bench. DO NOT drop him, though, as better days could be ahead and anyone you replace DHop with will likely be just as big of a wild card, if not a bigger one.
Verdict: Sit 'Em
Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Calvin Ridley
As Hopkins has struggled, Ridley began finding his stride in Week 2 and looks primed to operate as Levis' No. 1 target this season. He now leads the team in targets (13), receiving yards (127) and total touchdowns (two).
As if his Week 2 performance wasn't enough to warrant putting him in lineups, Ridley has a favorable matchup against a Packers defense that is tied for the eighth-most fantasy points surrendered to wide receivers.
Verdict: Start 'Em
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