Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Brandin Cooks

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.

Sunday, January 14, 11:30 PM

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks made six catches in a Wild Card Weekend loss to the Green Bay Packers. Cooks was targeted eight times, making six catches for 47 scoreless yards. Cooks had a very up-and-down season, as the Cowboys offense mostly ran through CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson. Offseason moves will play a huge role on what Cooks' fantasy value will be in 2024, although he's likely to fall into another boom-or-bust situation no matter what.