Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Harold Fannin Jr.

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.

Monday, September 22, 5:06 PM

Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. caught three of his four targets for 25 yards in a 13-10 upset win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 3. While Fannin didn't post gaudy numbers in the surprising win, he tied for third on the team in targets and receiving yards on a day where Cleveland focused on their run game, only throwing for 142 yards. Fannin has been a pleasant surprise through three weeks, catching 15 of his 18 targets for 136 yards through three games. The rookie has impressed thus far as he has carved out a sizable role in the Browns' passing attack, making him a solid starting tight end in most fantasy leagues going forward. In Week 4 he will head on the road to take on the Detroit Lions.