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DeAndre Hopkins injury casts doubt for Week 4 availability

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins ankle injury has him listed as questionable in Week 4. Will he suit up against the Panthers?

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was listed as a DNP (did not participate) for his second consecutive practice this week with an injury designation. His status is questionable for the Cardinals Week 4 road game against the Carolina Panthers. What does this mean for your fantasy football team and who will profit if Hopkins does in fact not play?

What is the DeAndre Hopkins’ injury?

Hopkins has not participated in the Wednesday or Thursday practices with what the team has referred to as an ankle injury. So far this season, Hopkins has been given a rest day on Wednesdays, but the injury designation is his first.

It is unknown if Hopkins sustained this injury in the Cardinals Week 3 loss to the Detroit Lions or if it occurred during practice. The Cardinals have provided no additional information in regards to Hopkins ankle injury. Hopkins is potentially a significant injury for fantasy football players, where he is currently WR3 in PPR formats. All injury updates that pertain to fantasy are in our Week 4 Fantasy Injury Report.

Will DeAndre Hopkins play in Week 4?

Missing two practices in as many days does not bode well for most wide receivers dealing with an ankle injury. Still, with the Houston Texans, Hopkins played through countless injuries. He has appeared in 113 of a possible 115 games to this point in his NFL career. The only game he missed due to injury was in 2017 when the 4-11 Texans took on the 3-12 Indianapolis Colts with nothing on the line.

Losing Hopkins in Week 4 would lead to increased attention in the passing game for Christian Kirk, who missed Week 3 against the Lions with a groin injury, but has been listed as a limited participant this week. Andy Isabella, who caught two touchdowns against the Lions, also figures to factor in more if Hopkins can not go on Sunday.

Kirk and Isabella, alongside Larry Fitzgerald, are all Flex worthy plays with no one player likely to dominate targets in the way Hopkins has. Of Kyler Murray’s 113 passing attempts this season, a whopping 37 (32.7%) have gone to Hopkins.

How has Hopkins performed with Arizona so far?

The three-time All-Pro was traded to the Cardinals back in March along with a fourth-round draft pick that turned into LSU DT Rashard Lawrence in exchange for running back David Johnson. The Texans also received a second-round draft pick that became TCU DT Ross Blacklock and a 2021 fourth-round selection.

Since arriving in Arizona, Hopkins hasn’t missed a beat. His connection with Murray is strong as he currently leads the NFL with 32 receptions and 356 receiving yards.

The Cardinals offense will look very different if their superstar wide receiver is unavailable to play. In his absence, the running game will feature prominently with Murray, Kenyan Drake, and Chase Edmonds looking to control the game on the ground.

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