Dustin

Hopkins

Hopkins has missed three field goals in the past two weeks, but the Browns evidently are not ready to release the 34-year-old veteran. Fantasy managers should obviously move on. Patterson is probably a fine option, but you should be able to do better on the waiver wire.

It appears Hopkins will get another chance to redeem himself after missing nine of his 25 field goal tries in 2024. The Browns on Tuesday signed K Riley Patterson, prompting speculation that Hopkins’ days as Cleveland’s starter were over. Hopkins should remain on waiver wires this week.

Incumbent Dustin Hopkins’ problems had become too big to ignore. Hopkins missed two field goals in Week 14 and has missed at least one field-goal attempt in four of his last five games. On the season Hopkins is just 16-of-25. Hopkins is still on the roster and has no injury that we’ve heard of, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if one of those things changed in the near future.

The deal comes after Hopkins’ career-best 91.7 percent field goal conversion rate in 2023. He was extremely accurate from afar, converting eight-of-eight field goal attempts from 50-plus yards. Among 33 NFL kickers to attempt at least 10 total field goals, Hopkins is one of just three such players to produce a 100.0 percent conversion rate at that distance.

The $5.3 million annual value places Hopkins amongst the top-five highest paid kickers in the league and ties him to the Browns through the 2027 season. The 10-year veteran made 33-of-36 field goal attempts in 2023, marking the third consecutive season with a conversion rate higher than 90 percent. Last season was also the first time in four years that Hopkins attempted more than 20 field goals after battling various injuries in his last year with the Commanders and two years with the Chargers. The extension also indicates a commitment from the Browns after the franchise brought in Lucas Havrisik earlier in the offseason.

Havrisik had a brief stint with the Browns last season but never attempted a field goal for them. The third-year kicker did, however, make nine appearances for the Rams last season, converting on 15-of-20 field goals, with four of them coming from 40-plus yards out. He’ll presumably get a chance to compete with Dustin Hopkins and Cade York for the Browns’ starting kicker role this season. Last season, Hopkins converted on 33-of-36 of his field goal attempts.

People participating in playoff contests this postseason will need to consider removing Hopkins from their lineups. Hopkins hasn’t kicked since Week 16 and will be replaced by Riley Patterson, who has attempted one field goal in Hopkins’ absence. Patterson kicked earlier this season for the Lions and is 16-for-18 on his field goal attempts this season.

Hopkins hurt his hamstring in Week 16 against the Texans and has not played since. He will not practice on Tuesday and Stefanski made it clear that it’s unlikely Hopkins will be able to play this weekend. Riley Patterson will most likely kick in his place.

Hopkins hurt his hamstring last week against the Texans and did not return to the game. He’s made 33 of 36 field goal tries this season, serving as a reliable kicker for the Browns. Cleveland will need to find a fill-in kicker for this Thursday night against the Jets.

In the midst of a solid fantasy season and set up for a nice Christmas Eve in Texas, Hopkins was injured trying to chase down Dameon Pierce on a second quarter kick return touchdown. Browns P Corey Bojorquez evidently can’t kick field goals, so it’s all fourth-down attempts and two-point conversions from here on out. Hopkins will probably need to be replaced during the week.