Fantasy Football Week 1 Start Decision: DeAndre Hopkins vs. Chris Godwin vs. Mike Evans
Tennessee Titans wideout DeAndre Hopkins is part of both matchups and going up against two Tampa Bay Buccaneers players, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Which of the three receivers will perform the best in week 1? Are any of them destined for a poor showing? Let’s dive in.
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Why You Should Start DeAndre Hopkins
Hopkins opens his Titans’ career with a road battle against the New Orleans Saints in the first round of Sunday games. Once a no-brainer start each week, Hopkins has endured back-to-back seasons in which he fell short of expectations. Much of that had to do with missing several games, however.
Hopkins played in nine games a season ago with the Arizona Cardinals, hauling in 64 of the 96 passes thrown his way for 717 yards and three touchdowns. When on the field, he was targeted early and often, with just two games under 10 targets. Hopkins was held under five catches in just three games, but caught touchdowns in two of those games to help out fantasy owners that started him. There were only two occasions in which Hopkins didn’t go for over 50 receiving yards.
He instantly becomes the No. 1 wideout for a Titans’ receiver room that’s been lacking a true workhorse for years. No Tennessee receiver reached 600 yards in 2022, and if Hopkins is healthy, he could reach that number in the first half of the season.
Tennessee is almost completely healthy across its entire roster heading into week 1, but with a lack of receivers to throw to, Hopkins should pretty easily be the leader in targets. Running back Derrick Henry seems like the only possible player that could get more touches than Hopkins.
The Titans are facing a Saints’ defense that was in the top half of the league last year when it came to receiving yards and touchdowns allowed, but if any receiver were to produce for the Titans, it will be Hopkins
Why You Should Start Chris Godwin
The Buccaneers take on the Minnesota Vikings in another early game Sunday. Tampa Bay is on the road, just like the Titans.
Godwin led the Bucs in receptions (104) and targets (142) in 2022. He finished second to Evans in yards (1,023). He was limited to just three touchdown grabs.
Godwin was targeted at least three times in all 15 games he played in, and finished with 6+ targets in 14 contests. He hauled in three passes in each game and had 13 games with six or more grabs.
Much like the Titans, the Buccaneers do not have a very loaded receiver room, with Godwin and Evans likely to carry much of the load. The big question mark going into the season is how the receiver duo will fare with new quarterback Baker Mayfield now throwing them passes. The Bucs have a promising up-and-coming back in Rachaad White, but there still should be more than enough targets to spread between Godwin and Evans.
Why You Should Start Mike Evans
Evans played in 15 games during the 2022 season, grabbed 77 of the 127 passes thrown his way for 1,124 yards and six touchdowns. The six scores led the Bucs.
Evans was targeted at least four times in each game he played in and ended up with two or more receptions each time. There was a bit of boom or bust in his outings, with five games under 50 yards and six over 80. Five of his touchdown receptions came in two ball games.
Evans, Godwin and the Buccaneers are going up against a Vikings’ defense that allowed the most receiving yards (3,266) to opposing wideouts in 2022. Minnesota was near the middle of the league in touchdowns allowed (13) to opposing receivers.
Final Start Decision Between Hopkins, Godwin and Evans
Hopkins split the two matchups with the Buccaneers receivers when it came to picking a starter. Owners that rostered Hopkins and Evans are starting Hopkins 25% of the time to just 17% for Evans. Owners are starting both wideouts nearly 49% of the time.
Owners with Hopkins and Godwin are starting Godwin 22% of the time to just 11% for Hopkins. Owners are starting both receivers about 55% of the time.
If you drafted both Godwin and Evans, owners are starting Godwin about 28% of the time to just 7% for Evans. Owners are starting both guys 40% of the time.
Godwin is projected the most points according to our week 1 projections at 14.42, with Evans at 14.1 and Hopkins at 12.3
Hopkins is the Recommended Start
Despite what owners are most often doing and the projections, I’d actually prefer Hopkins over both Godwin and Evans this week. There’s not a super talented receiver opposite Hopkins, like in the case with Godwin and Evans, so you can safely assume Hopkins gets the most targets, which also gives him a great chance at scoring. I like Hopkins to outproduce his projected stat line across the board.
I like Godwin and his more consistent history of catching passes and producing than Evans, who is more of a boom or bust option. With that being said, I think both guys can be safely started behind Hopkins, unless you’d like to stay away from two wideouts on the same team, in which case I’d suggest Godwin.
I see Godwin as a guy who should outproduce his projections, with Evans pretty much in line with his. A touchdown for Evans could help him outscore Godwin, but it’s difficult to know who Mayfield might target in the red zone with no past history to go back on.
