Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Greg Dulcich

Friday, December 27, 1:00 AM

New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper remains a viable streaming option heading into Saturday's Week 17 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Hooper has been one of the NFL's better backup tight ends this season, totaling 22 catches, 293 yards, and two touchdowns over his last six contests. In each of those six games, he has finished with at least three catches and at least 35 receiving yards. Since Week 10, he ranks 10th among tight ends in fantasy points per game (half-PPR), which is actually six slots higher than teammate Hunter Henry. Hooper's floor is a little lower against a Chargers defense allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends, but his track record and usage will keep him in the mid-range TE2 tier for Week 17. Managers could justify plucking him off waivers and starting him in leagues with at least 12 teams.

Tuesday, November 26, 4:36 PM

Former Denver Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich was claimed off waivers on Tuesday by the New York Giants, according to a source. Dulcich caught just five of 12 targets for 28 yards and no touchdowns in the first four games this year but has been a healthy scratch for Denver the last eight games. He'll now get a fresh start in the Big Apple and will serve as depth at the position behind rookie Theo Johnson (back), Chris Manhertz and Daniel Bellinger. The 24-year-old probably will not be active for the team's Thanksgiving game against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys on Thursday. When Dulcich gets himself familiarized with the Giants' offense, he'll have a tough time finding snaps for the rest of the 2024 season. Injuries limited him in his first two years with the Broncos and he caught 41 of 71 targets for 464 yards and two touchdowns in his 16 games (10 starts) with the team.