Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Taysom Hill

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.

Sunday, January 7, 5:23 PM

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill saw work both on the ground and through the air with Alvin Kamara (ankle) missing Week 18's win. Hill carried the ball six times for 51 yards, ripping off a game-long 27-yarder. He also caught all four targets for 28 yards. The versatile playmaker lined up all over the field, helping the Saints pick apart the Atlanta defense for 48 points. New Orleans will now await the result of both the Green Bay and Seattle games as he Saints hold onto hopes of sneaking into the playoffs.