Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Curtis Samuel

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.

Thursday, March 14, 6:07 PM

The Buffalo Bills signed free-agent wide receiver Curtis Samuel to a three-year, $24 million deal on Thursday that includes $15 million guaranteed. The deal is worth a maximum of $30 million. Since seeing Gabe Davis depart for the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency earlier this week, the Bills have added Mack Hollins and Samuel as receiver additions for quarterback Josh Allen. Samuel, 27, spent the last three seasons with the Washington Commanders, combining for 132 catches on 192 targets for 1,296 yards and eight touchdowns in 38 games (26 starts). He will provide some much-needed receiving depth in Buffalo behind Stefon Diggs, Khalil Shakir and tight end Dalton Kincaid, but Samuel doesn't figure to be much more than a WR3/flex option in deeper fantasy leagues on a weekly basis in 2024.