Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or AJ Barner

Saturday, September 20, 2:49 AM

New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper has seen increased usage within the team's offense, but it's not enough to justify starting him in fantasy football against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3. Hooper's snap share jumped from 32 percent in Week 1 to 62 percent in Week 2, and his pass-catching volume increased, too. The 30-year-old caught all three of his targets for 38 yards last week, out-producing Hunter Henry despite playing fewer snaps than him. Hooper remains the No. 2 tight end on the depth chart behind Henry, but he's still seeing decent playing time, especially in two-tight end sets. This week, Hooper is facing a mid-range Steelers defense that has allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to tight ends. Hooper ranks as RotoBaller's TE41 this week, and he can be benched in most leagues.

Friday, October 31, 6:29 PM

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner is a solid play in Week 9 against the Washington Commanders. Barner has displayed a nose for the end zone on modest volume this season. He has only exceeded three targets on one occasion, but he has caught four touchdown passes in seven games. The Commanders are No. 25 against opposing tight ends in fantasy. Their linebacking core seems to have a lot of difficulty stopping the position. With Barner's savvy in the red zone and run-after-catch ability, he could escape for a couple of big plays. Outside of the top five or so tight ends, the options are slim for fantasy. Barner presents an option with real upside and high touchdown probability in a good offense. He is still readily available on waivers, likely due to his low volume. Additionally, Barner may have earned himself more volume coming out of the Seahawks' bye week in Week 8. It is likely difficult for the Seahawks' coaching staff to ignore what Barner has been able to do with the ball in his hands. If you need a start, Barner could be a legitimate top ten option this week.