DeAndre Hopkins might actually make a run at this.

There’s no doubt how difficult chasing Calvin Johnson’s single-season NFL receiving yards record really is, but more than a third of the way through the season, Hopkins could go into the final month of the season with a shot at reaching the record.

Of course, so much can happen. Just look at Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown, who was initially on a pace to shatter Johnson’s record. Now, he’s nowhere close, fifth in the NFL in receiving. Of course, this is through little fault of his own but rather injury to his quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger.

Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins is on pace to challenge Calvin Johnson's NFL single-season record for receiving yards. Bob Levey/Getty Images

Julio Jones, who also started the season looking like he would really threaten Johnson’s mark, has fallen off a bit and has gone three straight games without a 100-yard game. He’s still in play, but can’t have too many non-100-yard games to stay in the conversation.

Then there’s Hopkins, who has four straight 100-yard games and is putting together both the production and the target total that could really keep him in the conversation. Colleague Tania Ganguli looked last week at why Hopkins might be in a spot to make a legitimate run at Johnson’s mark.

So here’s a peek at where Hopkins and Jones are right now, where Johnson was at this point during the 2012 season and what it would take for Jones to break Johnson’s mark. Coincidentally, Johnson broke Jerry Rice’s record of 1,848 yards against Atlanta.

DeAndre Hopkins:

Games: 6

Receptions: 52

Yards: 726

Yards per game: 121

On pace for: 1,936

Yards per game needed to break Johnson’s record: 123.9

Yards needed to reach 1,965: 1,239

Julio Jones:

Games: 6

Receptions : 49

Yards: 638

Yards per game: 106.3

On pace for: 1,701 yards

Yards per game needed to break Johnson’s record: 132.7

Yards needed to reach 1,965: 1,327

Calvin Johnson through six games in 2012: