New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper caught four of his six targets for 27 yards during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Buffalo Bills. The veteran tight end handled an increased workload in the regular-season finale, playing 67.2 percent of the Patriots' offensive snaps with Hunter Henry (foot) sidelined. The 30-year-old finished as a low-end TE2 in fantasy football this season with 45 catches, 476 yards, and three touchdowns. Hooper was a pleasant surprise during his first year in New England, maintaining a significant role on offense despite being listed second on the depth chart behind Henry. He's slated to hit free agency in March but could be a priority re-signing for the Patriots' next coaching regime.
Jan 5, 2025 10:23 PM EST
New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper has fallen off the fantasy radar ahead of Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Buffalo Bills. Hooper enjoyed an impressive stretch of games from Week 10 through Week 13 during which he was the overall TE10 in PPR leagues, but he has just 10 catches for 112 yards in three games since then. Equally noteworthy is the fact that his snap share dropped to 45 percent last Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers, which is the lowest it has been since Week 12. It's possible that this was an anomaly based on scheme and game plan, as fellow tight end Hunter Henry also played reduced snaps. However, it's still a sign that Hooper's role in the offense may be declining. As long as he remains behind Henry, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, and perhaps Kendrick Bourne in the pecking order, he can be avoided in fantasy football. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for production at the tight end position in Week 18.
Jan 4, 2025 4:52 PM EST
New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper remains a viable streaming option heading into Saturday's Week 17 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Hooper has been one of the NFL's better backup tight ends this season, totaling 22 catches, 293 yards, and two touchdowns over his last six contests. In each of those six games, he has finished with at least three catches and at least 35 receiving yards. Since Week 10, he ranks 10th among tight ends in fantasy points per game (half-PPR), which is actually six slots higher than teammate Hunter Henry. Hooper's floor is a little lower against a Chargers defense allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends, but his track record and usage will keep him in the mid-range TE2 tier for Week 17. Managers could justify plucking him off waivers and starting him in leagues with at least 12 teams.
Dec 27, 2024 1:00 AM EST
New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper caught four of his five targets for 55 yards during Sunday's Week 16 loss to the Buffalo Bills. It has been fascinating to watch him take on a larger role in the Patriots' offense without detracting much from Hunter Henry's volume, productivity, or fantasy value. Over his last six games, Hooper has 22 catches, 293 yards, and two touchdowns, out-producing Henry in yards, touchdowns, and fantasy points (PPR) during that span. That's not to say that Hooper should be started over Henry going forward, but it's at least justification to consider adding him off waivers in deeper fantasy leagues. After all, he has shown that he can produce consistently, tallying at least 6.8 fantasy points in each of his last six games. Hooper should continue to rank as a mid-range fantasy TE2 heading into next Saturday's battle with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Dec 23, 2024 2:49 AM EST
New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper has been productive over his last five games, totaling 18 catches, 238 yards, and two touchdowns during that span. Even as the Patriots' No. 2 tight end, Hooper has managed to make a name for himself, ranking as the overall TE14 in fantasy points since Week 10. That actually ranks five whole spots higher than fellow Patriots tight end Hunter Henry, despite the fact that Henry has played more snaps than Hooper and has more fantasy points over the whole season. Hooper's rapport with Drake Maye does put him on the fantasy radar this week, but he's still in the mid-to-low TE2 tier. That's especially true as he prepares to take on a Bills defense allowing the ninth-fewest catches, sixth-fewest receptions, and sixth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends in 2024.
Dec 21, 2024 12:54 AM EST
New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper caught all three of his targets for 38 yards during Sunday's Week 15 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The 30-year-old has emerged as a key contributor within the Patriots' offense, averaging 3.6 catches, 47.6 receiving yards, and 0.4 touchdowns per game over his last five contests. Even in his role as the No. 2 tight end behind Hunter Henry, Hooper has started to generate some fantasy buzz, ranking as a fringe top-24 option at the position heading into Week 16 against the Buffalo Bills.
Dec 15, 2024 9:47 PM EST
New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper caught all four of his targets for 42 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's Week 13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Hooper now has a touchdown in each of his last two games. He also has four targets in each of his last four contests, ranking as the overall TE8 during that span (and eight slots ahead of teammate Hunter Henry). The 30-year-old has continued to develop his rapport with rookie quarterback Drake Maye, and he has plenty of momentum heading into the Patriots' bye week. It's tough to trust a backup tight end in fantasy football, but if there's one worth starting, it's Hooper. He'll rank as a mid-to-low fantasy TE2 when the Patriots return to action in Week 15.
Dec 2, 2024 2:38 AM EST
New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper caught each of his four targets for 59 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's Week 12 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Hooper's biggest play was a 38-yard touchdown reception that would end up being New England's only offensive touchdown of the game. The 30-year-old continues to look like one of the best No. 2 tight ends in the NFL; he remains behind Hunter Henry in the pecking order but has carved out a role for himself, catching at least three passes for the third consecutive week. He'll rank just outside the top 24 fantasy tight ends heading into Week 13 against Indianapolis.
Nov 24, 2024 5:12 PM EST
The New England Patriots removed tight end Austin Hooper (neck) from the Week 12 injury report on Thursday, which means he was a full practice participant. Hooper was limited in Wednesday's session but is now ready to roll for a divisional clash this Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium against the Miami Dolphins. The 30-year-old veteran has become more intriguing as a TE2 sleeper play in deeper leagues and DFS contests now that rookie quarterback Drake Maye is leading the offense. However, the fantasy ceiling and floor remain pretty low as he works behind Hunter Henry. Most of Hooper's production has come in the last two games, as he's caught seven of his eight targets for 99 yards and no touchdowns. Hooper's lone score of the season came back in the loss to the San Francisco 49ers back on Sept. 29. He should be on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues.
Nov 21, 2024 6:12 PM EST
New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper (neck) was listed as limited on the team's practice report on Wednesday. Hooper apparently picked up a neck injury in the Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but the fact that he practiced at all on Wednesday means he has a good shot of playing this Sunday when the team takes on the division-rival Miami Dolphins. The 30-year-old has seen an uptick in production the last two weeks with rookie quarterback Drake Maye now leading the offense -- he's caught seven of eight targets for 99 yards -- although he's still nothing more than a low-end TE2 for fantasy purposes while ceding most of the tight end pass-catching work to Hunter Henry. In his first year in New England, Hooper has just one trip to paydirt and has 23 receptions (34 targets) for 236 yards in 11 games.
Nov 20, 2024 8:04 PM EST
New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper caught four of his five targets for 32 yards during Sunday's Week 7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 29-year-old operated behind Hunter Henry once again but still managed to turn in his best game of the season as he posted season-highs in targets, receptions, and yards. Interestingly, he posted these results despite playing a season-low 38.3 percent of offensive snaps. While any efficient performance like this one will open the eyes of fantasy managers, we should caution that Hooper is still the No. 2 tight end in New England and doesn't have enough of a role to warrant fantasy consideration. He remains off the radar for Week 8 against the New York Jets.
Oct 20, 2024 6:48 PM EST
New England Patriots tight end caught two passes for 13 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Hooper's touchdown came on fourth down as Jacoby Brissett sold the hand-off and found his tight end wide open near the goal line. Although he's the Patriots' No. 2 tight end behind Hunter Henry, Hooper has still put together a solid start to the season, catching six passes for 68 yards and the score. He'll continue to make an impact on offense but can be avoided in most fantasy leagues given the Patriots' subpar offense and his role behind Henry.
Sep 29, 2024 9:14 PM EST
New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper caught two of his four targets for 31 yards during Sunday's Week 1 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The veteran finished led the Patriots in receiving yards, but this level of production isn't enough to put him on the fantasy radar going forward, especially since he remains behind Hunter Henry on the depth chart. Instead, Hooper will merely offer a reliable veteran presence in two-tight end sets, giving Brissett a solid outlet on short and medium passes.
Sep 8, 2024 6:02 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders free-agent tight end Austin Hooper is expected to sign a one-year deal worth up to $4.25 million with the New England Patriots on Wednesday. The veteran tight end will reunite with new Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who was with Hooper with the Cleveland Browns. Hooper made the Pro Bowl two straight years from 2018-19 while with the Atlanta Falcons, but he hasn't been nearly as involved as he was then in the last four seasons with the Browns, Titans and Raiders. In 17 games (nine starts) last year in Vegas, the 29-year-old caught just 25 of 31 targets for 234 yards and no touchdowns. With both Mike Gesicki and Pharaoh Brown now gone, Hooper figures to serve as New England's No. 2 TE behind Hunter Henry in 2024. Unless Henry gets hurt, Hooper is unlikely to have a significant enough role to warrant fantasy consideration in standard-sized leagues.
Mar 13, 2024 12:18 AM EST
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Austin Hooper (calf) upgraded to a full participant in practice on Friday. As a result, he has been removed from the final injury report and will play in Week 10 versus the New York Jets. Hooper has been a steady contributor this season, catching at least one pass in eight of nine games. However, he doesn't see nearly enough snaps or volume to justify rostering him in fantasy football. He remains behind Michael Mayer on the depth chart and belongs on waivers in all fantasy leagues.
Nov 10, 2023 4:59 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Austin Hooper (calf) was limited in the team's practice on Wednesday. Hooper played his usual snaps in the Raiders' 30-6 win over the New York Giants in Week 9, and the team is likely easing his practice reps to start the week. The veteran caught his only target for 10 yards last week while remaining behind rookie tight end Michael Mayer on the depth chart. Hooper will have two more chances to upgrade to full before Las Vegas takes on the New York Jets in Week 10 on Sunday night football. If he suits up, he should only be started in extremely deep tight end premium leagues.
Nov 9, 2023 12:48 AM EST
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Austin Hooper didn't do much in the 17-13 win over the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. Rookie Michael Mayer and Hooper both caught two passes, but Hooper had just 11 receiving yards to show for it. Hooper played just six fewer offensive snaps than Mayer and is unlikely to enter the fantasy radar anytime soon as long as Mayer remains healthy. The 28-year-old Hooper now has six receptions on his seven targets for 62 yards and no touchdowns in his first five games for the Raiders in 2023. Mayer, meanwhile, has just three catches on his five targets for 41 yards, but he's expected to slowly build into a bigger role in his rookie campaign as the season progresses.
Oct 10, 2023 11:33 AM EST
Hooper could slide to No. 2 on the depth chart after the Raiders selected fellow tight end Michael Mayer with the 35th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Vic Tafur of TheAthletic.com reports.
May 30, 2023 8:57 AM EST
Hooper recorded four catches on four targets for 38 yards in Saturday's 20-16 loss to the Jaguars.
Jan 11, 2023 9:24 PM EST
Hooper recorded one catch on six targets for six yards in Thursday's 27-13 loss to the Cowboys.
Dec 30, 2022 9:27 PM EST