Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Deebo 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.

Friday, April 26, 2:32 PM

The Buffalo Bills have interest in trading for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, according to league sources. Now that the first round of the 2024 NFL draft is in the books, Niners wideout Brandon Aiyuk is less likely to be traded than Samuel, who has a 2025 salary cap number over $20 million. Not only are the Bills extremely desperate for a receiver after trading Stefon Diggs and losing Gabe Davis in free agency this offseason, but they acquired extra picks in this year's draft by trading down twice late in the first round on Thursday night. A move to Buffalo would immediately make Samuel the team's top wideout for Pro Bowl quarterback Josh Allen and allow him to retain plenty of fantasy value given his after-the-catch abilities. Stay tuned.