Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Dak Prescott

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.

Tuesday, March 26, 2:46 PM

The Dallas Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott have a mutual understanding of his contract situation, according to sources, with no offers from Dallas despite Prescott being in a contract year. "We are where we are, locked and loaded for this year," owner Jerry Jones said. With no indication of a new deal coming, it looks like the 30-year-old signal-caller will play out the 2024 season on the final year of his contract. The three-time Pro Bowler threw for 4,516 yards and a league-high 36 touchdowns in 17 regular-season games in one of his best showings, but the Cowboys fell flat in the playoffs yet again. There's still time for the two sides to work something out to help ease the burden of Prescott's $55.46 million salary cap hit this year. Fantasy-wise, Prescott will be a QB1 consolation prize after the elite names at the position come off the board.