CODY STOOTS

Texans player of the game: DeAndre Hopkins

DeAndre Hopkins almost singlehandedly beat the Cowboys. Tim Warner/Getty Images

DeAndre Hopkins set the Texans up for plenty of success today but none bigger than his overtime dash to get the Texans into field goal range for the game-winning kick in the 19-16 win over the Cowboys. 

Hopkins beat his man catching the ball and spinning out of a tackle for a 49-yard gain on the biggest offensive play of the night. A few plays later the Texans kicked a field goal for a win. 

"I think it was man to man," he said. "Deshaun (Watson) put the ball on the money."

Hopkins joked his spin moves on the big play didn't make him dizzy but said he was trying to set the Texans up for a win knowing the team needed just a field goal. 

"I fumbled, but I knew I had to make a play," Hopkins said. "I wasn't trying to go down easy."

He contributed without making a play as well. In the fourth quarter with the game tied Hopkins flew into the end zone drawing a pass interference as he came up short on the catch. The penalty set the Texans up for a field goal to take the lead later in the drive. 

A rare Hopkins mistake led to a Dallas score. On the third play out of halftime, Hopkins caught a pass and was tangled up with the Cowboys defense, which ripped the ball from his hands. It would lead to the lone Dallas touchdown on the ensuing Cowboys drive. 

"I was just trying to make a play," he said. Hopkins said he felt like his progress was stopped so he tried to reach for more before the Dallas players dislodged the ball. 

Defense was also on the box score for Hopkins as well. He batted down the Cowboys final pass attempt in regulation helping to send the game to overtime. Hopkins stood in the end zone waiting for the Dak Prescott pass knocking it out and down to the ground amongst a big pile of players. 

All together Hopkins rattled off another impressive line. He caught nine passes for 151 yards. He made up for his mistake in the third quarter by drawing a big pass interference call and a huge overtime play to set the Texans up for the winning kick. 

He's almost unguardable at this point. Hopkins really isn't slowed in any way these days, getting open with even the stingiest defenses on him. He's arguably the most consistent wideout in football, succeeding even on a day when the offense sputters and has a tough time getting into a flow. 

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Keep an eye on Tank Dell this Sunday. Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images.

I remember thinking how in the world can these little frail guys survive at the NFL level? I mean, I saw Joe Theismann and Ed McCaffrey's legs snap. Drew Bledsoe got his chest caved in. Seeing 300-plus pound men cry when injured is humbling. So when a guy like Tank Dell comes along, I'm always a bit apprehensive. Especially when they come with a ton of hype.

For every eight to ten big strong players that get hurt, there's one or two little fellas that have relatively healthy careers. The comp that came to mind when looking at Tank was DeSean Jackson. Listed at 5'10 and weighing a heavy 175 pounds, Jackson was arguably the best “small guy” in NFL history. Dell being about two inches shorter and about ten pounds lighter, while also playing a similar role, is in line to be a similarly electrifying type of player. I put my assessment on the line and doubled down with my predictions on what his, and others' season totals will look like last week:

Tank Dell: 68 catches, 1,105 yards and 6 touchdowns- Dell will be a really good slot, but has some outside skills. Namely, his speed. He's more slippery than if Mick had greased that chicken before Rocky tried catching it. I could see his production going up as the season gets longer because Stroud will begin to look for him more and more as they build chemistry. Yes, I know I only have him with six scores. Keep in mind this is a run first offense. At least that's what we can deduce from looking at where it came from in San Francisco.

In his debut game last week vs the Ravens, he notched three catches for 34 yards on four targets. He was tied for third on the team in targets with Noah Brown and Mike Boone. While Robert Woods and Nico Collins were one and two in targets last week, I think Dell will ascend that list starting this week. Word came down that Noah Brown is headed to IR, meaning he'll miss at least the next four weeks. The chemistry he and fellow rookie C.J. Stroud have developed is palpable. From working out together, to attending UH games together, these two seem to have a nice bond already.

Woods is a solid vet two years removed from an ACL injury. Collins was a third rounder with size who hasn't done a whole lot. Dell is easily the most exciting option at receiver this team has. John Metchie III was expected to be the next guy up. Unfortunately, cancer had him take a backseat, until now. Metchie is back at practice this week, so a debut is imminent. He could potentially challenge for more playing time, but it may take him some time to get used to things and get going again.

As far as my statistical prediction for his season, he only needs to average four catches for 67 yards per game, and get a touchdown every two to three games for the remainder of the season. Given Brown being out the next few games, Metchie not quite being up to speed, Woods being an older player on a short-term deal, and Collins not really being what everyone thought he could be, it leaves things wide open for Dell to step up.

Playmakers come in all shapes and sizes. Levon Kirkland was a 300-pound middle linebacker in a 3-4. Doug Flutie led teams to playoff wins as a 5'9 quarterback. In football, size matters. The bigger, stronger guys normally win out. When it comes to receiving and returns, you want speed, quickness, and agility. Dell has that in spades. Add his competitive nature and chemistry with his quarterback and you have a recipe for a star in the making. I know I'm not the only one hoping the Texans continue Tank-ing.

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