As longtime Titans observer Paul Kuharsky first reported, DeAndre Hopkins suffered a knee injury during practice this week. The initial diagnosis suggests the star wide receiver will miss four to six weeks.
Fantasy Football Outlook
According to ESPN.com's Turron Davenport, the Titans are optimistic about Hopkins' return.
If he returns after four weeks, Hopkins will have a full week of practice to prepare for the season opener against the Bears on Sept. 8 in Chicago.
Hopkins led the Titans with 75 receptions for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns last season, his first with the team.
Fantasy Football Fallout
Former first-round pick Treylon Burks will take the first-team reps opposite newcomer Calvin Ridley in Hopkins' absence. While Burks could use a break, and this opportunity might be that, his first three seasons with the team haven't offered much hope the former first-round pick has what it takes to make the most of it.
Fantasy Football Impact
Meanwhile, Ridley's current Average Draft Position, WR33, carries a sixth-round price tag. We might not want to chase him up much further than that if the price rises in the wake of this news, but we'd be slightly more confident in paying the going rate.
As for Hopkins, fantasy managers already invested will have to wait and see, while those with drafts still coming will want to monitor his progress closely. If Hopkins' WR37 price falls precipitously, it might become a buying opportunity.