Dustin Hopkins's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) is unlikely to face the Houston Texans in the AFC wild-card game on Saturday, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. It's bad news for Cleveland in a critical time of the season, but it looks like Riley Patterson will handle the kicking duties. Hopkins was excellent during the regular season, connecting on 33 of his 36 field-goal attempts. He went 8-for-8 on tries of 50-plus yards. Patterson went 15-for-17 for the Detroit Lions this season before being released and signed by the Browns. Hopkins missed the final two games of the regular season with his hamstring injury and also didn't take part in the first practice of the week on Tuesday.

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) has officially been ruled out for the Week 18 regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. It will be the second straight missed game for the 33-year-old booter. Cleveland will be hoping Hopkins will be ready to roll for the wild-card round of the postseason next week. When healthy, Hopkins has been a fantasy relevant kicker this year, especially since quarterback Joe Flacco arrived and jumpstarted this offense. In 15 games in his first year with the Browns, Hopkins has gone 33-for-36 on field-goal attempts and 24-for-26 on extra points. With Hopkins being held out again this weekend, Riley Patterson will do the kicking for Cleveland and should be avoided in fantasy lineups with the Browns resting some of their key starters, including Flacco.

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) remained sidelined at practice on Thursday. Hopkins was forced to sit out on a short week in last Thursday night's win over the New York Jets and doesn't appear close to returning for a meaningless Week 18 regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday. The most likely scenario is that the Browns will rest the 33-year-old kicker and any other injured players like receiver Amari Cooper (heel) as they rest up for the wild-card round of the playoffs next week. Cleveland is already locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC, so Hopkins is likely to miss a second straight game this weekend. If that's the case, Riley Patterson will do the kicking for the Browns in Week 18. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for a kicker.

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) remained sidelined at practice on Wednesday. Hopkins wasn't able to kick in the Week 17 win over the New York Jets last Thursday night and might be forced to miss a second straight game this Sunday to close out the regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns are already locked into the No. 5 seed for the playoffs, too, so they aren't going to rush any injured players back onto the field for this one in a meaningless game. As of right now, the veteran 33-year-old booter is looking like a fantasy option to avoid in fantasy lineups in Week 18, even if he ends up being active. Riley Patterson filled in for Hopkins in Week 17 and would get the starting nod again if Hopkins is ruled out this weekend.