Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Dalton Kincaid

Sunday, January 5, 10:23 PM

New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper caught four of his six targets for 27 yards during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Buffalo Bills. The veteran tight end handled an increased workload in the regular-season finale, playing 67.2 percent of the Patriots' offensive snaps with Hunter Henry (foot) sidelined. The 30-year-old finished as a low-end TE2 in fantasy football this season with 45 catches, 476 yards, and three touchdowns. Hooper was a pleasant surprise during his first year in New England, maintaining a significant role on offense despite being listed second on the depth chart behind Henry. He's slated to hit free agency in March but could be a priority re-signing for the Patriots' next coaching regime.

Monday, January 27, 7:07 PM

Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox said on Monday that fellow TE Dalton Kincaid (knee) was playing in the AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday on a torn PCL in his knee. In addition to that injury, Kincaid aggravated his other knee. "It's insane what he's played through," Knox said. This could help to explain why the 25-year-old second-year tight end had a disappointing sophomore campaign for Buffalo, catching just 44 passes for 448 yards and two touchdowns in 13 regular-season games after he had a 73-673-2 line in 16 games in 2023 in his rookie season. He caught only two of his four targets for 13 yards in the 32-29 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday and had a crucial drop with under two minutes left in the fourth quarter on fourth down that effectively ended Buffalo's season. If Kincaid can move past his knee injuries in 2025, he could be a nice TE sleeper in fantasy drafts this fall.