Who Should I Start? DeAndre Hopkins or Alec Pierce

Tuesday, March 11, 7:18 PM

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and the Baltimore Ravens have agreed to terms on a one-year $5 million deal worth up to $6 million guaranteed. Despite the increased production from fourth-year wideout Rashod Bateman a season ago, Baltimore sought to bolster their wide receiver corps -- bringing a veteran presence into the locker room. Hopkins spent most of 2024 with Kansas City after a mid-season trade with the Tennessee Titans and racked up a 41-catch 437-yard line in ten games with four touchdowns. The 32-year-old is not the presence he once was on the outside, but he gives superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson another set of reliable hands. While Hopkins may still have some juice, he'll be competing with fellow wideout Zay Flowers and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely for targets on a team that ranked second-to-last in pass attempts per game in 2024 (27.5).

Sunday, January 5, 8:34 PM

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce did his usual thing on Sunday, catching a deep 40-yard touchdown pass on the team's opening drive and adding another 17-yard catch in the 26-23 win over the Jaguars. Despite only 37 receptions on the season, the 24-year-old finishes as the Colts' receiving leader with 824 yards and seven touchdowns. With blazing speed, he led the league in average depth of target (aDOT) which helped him rack up the yardage. The former second-round draft pick will likely fill a similar role in 2025 but, unless he can garner additional targets, it's hard to envision outpacing this season's production. Nevertheless, he should be worthy of at least a bench spot in next year's drafts, as he can be a viable (yet volatile) fill-in when the bye weeks hit.