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 has Developed Strong Chemistry With New QB

Saturday, July 11, 8:11 AM

Washington Commanders tight end Chig Okonkwo, who signed a three-year deal with the Commanders in free agency in March, thinks he has found the right landing spot to take his game to the next level, according to Zach Selby of the team's official website. "I feel like this is the place where I can finally just unleash," Okonkwo said. The 26-year-old has already "developed a strong connection" with quarterback Jayden Daniels, and Okonkwo has been impressed with his new QB. "He's a dog," Okonkwo said. "He gets the ball out super accurate." The former fourth-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 caught at least 50 passes in each of his last three seasons and had five total touchdowns. He should be more comfortable playing in D.C., which is only a few miles away from where he went to college at the University of Maryland. Daniels has connected in the past with TEs involved in the passing game, as he targeted Zach Ertz 91 times back in 2024. Okonkwo is a candidate to see an uptick in production in his first year in Washington for a team that lacks depth at receiver behind Terry McLaurin. He'll be a TE2 sleeper to target in upcoming fantasy football drafts.


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.