Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Jake Ferguson

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.

Thursday, September 5, 5:25 PM

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson had a solid season last year, finishing as the overall fantasy TE10. He's set for a similar or perhaps even bigger role this year after the departure of running back Tony Pollard. Ferguson was 10th in receiving yards per game among tight ends and 17th in yards per route run. He could see more short passes going his way this season, making him an excellent floor play with some upside each week. Week 1, however, could be a difficult one as the Cleveland Browns defense limited opposing tight ends to the fewest receiving yards last season and the second-fewest fantasy points. Ferguson is a low-end TE1 for Week 1 with brighter outlooks ahead.