Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or James Washington

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.

Monday, August 28, 7:13 PM

The Indianapolis Colts released wide receiver James Washington on Monday, according to a league source. Washington signed with the Colts during training camp but obviously didn't do enough in the short time he was with the team to earn a roster spot heading into the 2023 regular season. The former second-round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers back in 2018 out of Oklahoma State was unable to secure his only target in two games played with the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 after four seasons in Pittsburgh to begin his career. Washington's best season came in 2019, when he had 44 receptions for 735 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games (10 starts). He will now look to join another team as receiver depth for the 2023 campaign.