Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Adam Shaheen

Wednesday, March 13, 12:18 AM

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.

Monday, October 30, 11:24 PM

While dealing with injuries at the position, the Buffalo Bills worked out former Chicago Bears tight end Adam Shaheen on Monday. Dawson Knox (wrist) is currently on Injured Reserve and will miss at least three more games. Shaheen was with the Miami Dolphins last year, but he didn't play at all due to a knee injury that landed him on Injured Reserve. The 29-year-old former second-round pick by the Chicago Bears hasn't played in an NFL since 2021, when he had 12 receptions on 16 targets for 110 yards and no touchdowns in 12 games (seven starts). Shaheen will remain well off the fantasy radar, even if he's signed by Buffalo. Rookie Dalton Kincaid had a big game in last Thursday night's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will have TE1 upside moving forward with Knox on the shelf.