Brycen

Hopkins

There are no surprises here and no real difference-makers on the list. Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp will continue to suit up for the Rams despite being banged up.

This is the kind of thing we take with a grain of salt and remember down the line. Hopkins is, at best, the TE2 for the Rams but could be behind Hunter Long as the TE3. The former fourth-round pick out of Purdue has totaled eight catches for 118 yards in his career but did manage a 4-47-0 line in the team’s Super Bowl win over the Bengals. Hopkins has no fantasy upside as long as Tyler Higbee is healthy, but a strong camp could be enough to push him into a bigger role should Higbee ever miss time.

Hopkins was second on the team in yardage behind fellow tight end Tyler Higbee. That’s worthy of mentioning given that Ejiro Evero, Denver’s defensive coordinator, used to work with the Rams under McVay. Chargers coach Brandon Staley -- the next opponent for the Rams -- also worked under McVay. We don’t think that means you should start Hopkins next week, but maybe he’s an interesting DFS punt in Week 17.

The third-year tight end has played eight offensive snaps and six on special teams through two weeks. He’ll miss games against the Cardinals, 49ers, and Cowboys.

It was Hopkins, and not Kendall Blanton, who replaced the injured Tyler Higbee (knee) as starter. You are forgiven if you didn’t see it coming, as the No. 136 overall pick of the 2020 draft entered this evening with one career target across 10 appearances in two years. One month shy of his 25th birthday, Hopkins is still miles from Dynasty relevance despite this evening’s random popup.

The Rams also sent Jalen Ramsey to the COVID list on Monday, two crushing blows ahead of a pivotal matchup with the Cardinals on Monday night. It is also a tough break for Higbee fantasy managers who now have to scramble for limited options. Zach Ertz is rostered in 86 percent of Yahoo leagues, so it is highly unlikely he is available. The depth chart behind Higbee consists of Kendall Blanton, who has two catches this year, Brycen Hopkins, who has zero regular-season catches in his career, and practice-squad call-up Jared Pinkney. Good luck.

The Rams are remarkably healthy after five games. They have no major injuries of note and should have no problem hanging plenty of points on the Giants.

No major injuries to report for the Rams, whose offense will be operating at full capacity against the Colts.

Hopkins (6’4/241) was a three-year starter at Purdue who posted a 61-830-7 season as a redshirt senior. Undersized and a below-average blocker, Hopkins will be competing for pass-catching reps at the NFL as a slot tight end or H-back. On tape, he showed burst off the line of scrimmage and created separation with route running and timing, but he was not a fully polished player despite being older. He dropped 22 passes during his career, including eight last season, and only broke 10 tackles on 130 career receptions. His 4.66 speed allows him to win on vertical routes and crosses against slower defenders, but he’s unlikely to be a consistent in-traffic player. A 23-year-old rookie, Hopkins profiles as a specialist between the 20s as a quick but undersized pass-catching tight end. The Rams have a loaded tight end room with Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett, so it will be difficult for Hopkins to find playing time on offense early on.

Hopkins (6’4/241) was a three-year starter at Purdue who posted a 61-830-7 season as a redshirt senior. Undersized and a below-average blocker, Hopkins will be competing for pass-catching reps at the NFL as a slot tight end or H-back. On tape, he showed burst off the line of scrimmage and created separation with route running and timing, but he was not a fully polished player despite being older. He dropped 22 passes during his career, including eight last season, and only broke 10 tackles on 130 career receptions. His 4.66 speed allows him to win on vertical routes and crosses against slower defenders, but he’s unlikely to be a consistent in-traffic player. A 23-year-old rookie, Hopkins profiles as a fringe starter who specializes between the 20s as a quick but undersized pass-catching tight end. The Rams have a loaded tight end room with Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett, so it will be difficult for Hopkins to find playing time on offense early on.