Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Marcus Kemp

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, 7:21 PM

The Washington Commanders released veteran wide receiver Marcus Kemp on Monday, according to a source. Kemp spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Giants last year, but didn't have a single target in three active contests with the Chiefs. In five seasons in the NFL, he has just four catches on eight targets for 42 yards in 47 games (zero starts). The 28-year-old is mostly an asset on special teams while also providing depth in the receiver room. He will now hope to catch on with another organization before the start of the 2023 regular season.