The New England Patriots have faced some talented wide receivers this year, but DeAndre Hopkins might stand above them all. The Houston Texans’ number one pass catcher, after all, is among the most productive offensive players in the NFL: through 11 games this season, he has caught 81 passes thrown his way (second most in the NFL) for 839 yards (11th) and six touchdowns (6th) — clearly leading his team in the first two categories.
Needless to say that slowing down Houston’s eighth-ranked scoring offense this season, starts not just with quarterback Deshaun Watson but also with taking away his favorite target — a plan the Patriots used last week when they used their top cornerback, Stephon Gilmore, to erase Amari Cooper from the equation.