Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Chig Okonkwo


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
7.7 0.0 0.0 3.2 34.0 0.2

Chig Okonkwo News

Chig Okonkwo the Commanders De Facto No. 2 Receiver

Wednesday, August 5, 5:25 AM

The Washington Commanders signed Chig Okonkwo to a three-year, $27 million deal this offseason, and while his roster position is still listed as tight end, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler is ready to classify him as the team's de facto number two receiver. Fowler recently spent a day at Commanders training camp, where veteran receiver Terry McLaurin told him, "He's a tight end who really runs routes like a receiver." With the team lacking significant star power behind McLaurin, Okonkwo has established a quick chemistry with quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has regularly looked for his newest weapon in the red zone. Okonkwo also has the versatility to move across the formation, and of his fit in first-year coordinator David Blough's offense, Okonkwo said, "Having an expanded playbook, it's allowing me to use my speed down the field a lot more." The fourth-year tight end has caught at least 50 passes in each of the past three seasons, and with a potential career-high target share coming his way, he could prove to be one of the best values at the position at RotoBaller's TE19.


Austin Hooper vs. Chig Okonkwo

Still trying to decide between Hooper and Okonkwo? 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 Chig Okonkwo is projected to score 7.7 points.