Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Brock Bowers

Friday, December 27, 1:00 AM

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.

Sunday, December 29, 9:59 PM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers caught all seven of his targets for 77 yards during Sunday's Week 17 win over the New Orleans Saints. Along the way, Bowers set the record for most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in NFL history. Although he did break the record by passing Mike Ditka, who accomplished the feat in just 14 games compared to Bowers' 16, it's still an impressive accomplishment for the first-rounder out of Georgia. He also set the record for most receptions by a rookie in NFL history. The 22-year-old remains the overall TE1 in fantasy football, and he'll be a premier option at the position once more when the Raiders close out their season against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18.