Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or DeVante Parker

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 12, 4:11 PM

The Philadelphia Eagles are signing veteran wide receiver DeVante Parker to a one-year, $4.96 fully guaranteed deal. Philly will pay just $1.2 million, and New England will cover the rest. Parker was released by the Patriots this week after two seasons with the organization. Since being selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft, Parker has posted just one season of at least 1,000 receiving yards. He has failed to post at least 700 yards in six of his nine NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins and Patriots. In Philadelphia behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, Parker is unlikely to be on the fantasy radar, barring injury.