Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Dawson Knox

Saturday, September 20, 2:49 AM

New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper has seen increased usage within the team's offense, but it's not enough to justify starting him in fantasy football against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3. Hooper's snap share jumped from 32 percent in Week 1 to 62 percent in Week 2, and his pass-catching volume increased, too. The 30-year-old caught all three of his targets for 38 yards last week, out-producing Hunter Henry despite playing fewer snaps than him. Hooper remains the No. 2 tight end on the depth chart behind Henry, but he's still seeing decent playing time, especially in two-tight end sets. This week, Hooper is facing a mid-range Steelers defense that has allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to tight ends. Hooper ranks as RotoBaller's TE41 this week, and he can be benched in most leagues.

Saturday, October 11, 2:41 PM

Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox could be in line for an expanded role in Week 6 with Dalton Kincaid (oblique) questionable ahead of Monday night's matchup against Atlanta. Fantasy managers rostering Kincaid should consider adding Knox as insurance, given the late-game kickoff. A proven red zone threat, Knox would likely step into a larger pass-catching role if Kincaid is ruled out. The veteran tight end posted 517 yards and six touchdowns during his last full season as the primary starter in 2022, earning a Pro Bowl nod. With the Falcons boasting the league's top-ranked pass defense, Josh Allen may lean on his tight ends in short-yardage and scoring situations--making Knox a viable streaming option if he's elevated to TE1 duties in Week 6.