Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Charlie Kolar


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
3.3 0.0 0.0 1.3 15.1 0.1

Austin Hooper News

Austin Hooper Heading Back to Atlanta

Monday, March 9, 9:40 AM

Free-agent tight end Austin Hooper is signing a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Hooper was originally drafted by Atlanta in the third round in 2016 out of Stanford. The 31-year-old veteran spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Falcons and was a Pro Bowler with them in 2018 and 2019. He then bounced around with the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, and New England Patriots. Hooper hasn't been as productive as he was in his final two seasons in Atlanta, and in his return, he'll be a backup to TE Kyle Pitts Sr. In 16 regular-season games (six starts) for the Patriots last year, Hooper had just 21 catches for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Unless Pitts is traded or injured in 2026, Hooper won't be on the fantasy radar in redraft leagues this fall.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
2.7 0.1 0.0 1.0 11.2 0.1

Charlie Kolar News

Charlie Kolar has Untapped Pass-Catching Potential

Monday, July 13, 12:01 PM

The Los Angeles Chargers made tight end Charlie Kolar a priority addition in free agency earlier this year, signing him to a three-year, $24.3 million deal. He was an elite run-blocker with the Baltimore Ravens and will continue to fill that role in his new digs in L.A., but The Athletic's Daniel Popper also thinks that Kolar has "a ton of untapped potential as a pass-catcher." If everything falls perfectly, Kolar could break out as an offensive contributor in his first year with the Bolts. He didn't have much of a chance in Baltimore behind both Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, but he'll have more opportunities in the passing game with the Chargers. Kolar has never caught more than 10 passes in a season, and his career high in receiving yards came last year with 142. It means that he won't really be on anyone's fantasy radar in 2026, but Popper thinks the 27-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2022 out of Iowa State will "surpass those figures handily in 2026." If Oronde Gadsden misses time with an injury this year, Kolar could be a sneaky waiver-wire addition in two-TE leagues.


Austin Hooper vs. Charlie Kolar

Still trying to decide between Hooper and Kolar? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Austin Hooper is projected to score 3.3 points this week while Charlie Kolar is projected to score 2.7 points.