Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Nate Boerkircher
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 15.1 | 0.1 |
Austin Hooper News
Monday, March 9, 9:40 AM
Free-agent tight end Austin Hooper is signing a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Hooper was originally drafted by Atlanta in the third round in 2016 out of Stanford. The 31-year-old veteran spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Falcons and was a Pro Bowler with them in 2018 and 2019. He then bounced around with the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, and New England Patriots. Hooper hasn't been as productive as he was in his final two seasons in Atlanta, and in his return, he'll be a backup to TE Kyle Pitts Sr. In 16 regular-season games (six starts) for the Patriots last year, Hooper had just 21 catches for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Unless Pitts is traded or injured in 2026, Hooper won't be on the fantasy radar in redraft leagues this fall.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 7.2 | 0.1 |
Nate Boerkircher News
Thursday, July 9, 5:50 PM
Sports Illustrated's John Shipley writes that Jacksonville Jaguars rookie second-rounder Nate Boerkircher is the favorite to be the team's No. 2 tight end behind Brenton Strange in 2026. Boerkircher had only 38 catches for 417 yards and four touchdowns in five collegiate seasons with Nebraska and Texas A&M, but the Jags "have been extremely high on their rookie" and what he can do for the rest of the offense. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder figures to make an impact immediately as a blocker, but they also think that he has untapped potential in the passing game. It won't be easy for Boerkircher, though, as he'll face competition from Quinton Morris and fellow rookie fifth-rounder Tanner Koziol. Koziol was "hands-down the most impressive tight end" not named Strange during offseason workouts. Depending on how the numbers shake out for the final 53-man roster, Hunter Long could be the odd-man out at the position. For Jacksonville's No. 2 TE role, blocking will be a point of emphasis, and Boerkircher definitely has the upper hand there over Koziol, whose blocking was a serious question mark in college.
Austin Hooper vs. Nate Boerkircher
Still trying to decide between Hooper and Boerkircher? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Austin Hooper is projected to score 3.3 points this week while Nate Boerkircher is projected to score 1.7 points.
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