3 Texans Players Most Affected by DeAndre Hopkins Trade

It's been over a week since Houston Texans head coach/general manager Bill O'Brien decided to trade star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for a disgrace of a return. This is a Texans team that held a 21-0 lead over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round, and just a few months after the loss, O'Brien felt the need to trade their best offensive player.

These three Texans players will be affected the most by this mind-blowing blunder of a trade throughout in the 2020 season.

3. RB David Johnson

David Johnson will have a heavy workload for the Texans in 2020. / Christian Petersen/Getty Images

David Johnson was the main piece the Texans got from the Cardinals in the Hopkins trade. Johnson isn't the same explosive back that he was when he entered the NFL due to a multitude of injuries. Now, without Hopkins ruining the lives of defenses, O'Brien will likely call upon Johnson to run the rock...a lot. Johnson will finally be the undisputed back on his team, but it's unknown if he can succeed, even with a better offensive line than what he had in Arizona.

2. WR Will Fuller

Will Fuller is now the undisputed top receiver on the Texans. / David Eulitt/Getty Images

With Hopkins gone, Will Fuller is the undisputed top wideout on the Texans roster. Congratulations. When healthy, Fuller greatly benefitted from defenses double-teaming Nuk, especially on deep routes. But now, opposing teams will set their sights on Fuller for the duration of the 2020 season. Fuller has never really lived up to his first-round selection back in 2016 due to his numerous bouts with the injury bug. Now, the Texans will get to see if Fuller is truly a franchise receiver. Have fun with those double-teams, Will.

1. QB Deshaun Watson

Deshaun Watson is the biggest victim of the Hopkins trade. / Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

This wasn't even a contest. Quarterback Deshaun Watson just lost his most reliable target since entering the league in 2017. Now, he has to rely on oft-injured receivers in Fuller and Kenny Stills, while gaining a slot receiver in Randall Cobb in free agency. That's a significant downgrade for the franchise signal caller. It's not like the Texans can get a top receiver in the NFL Draft to replace Hopkins, because they only got a second-rounder and fourth-round selection! It's not going to be a fun 2020 for Watson, and we wouldn't be shocked if he wants a trade out of H-Town.