Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Tyler Higbee

Wednesday, November 19, 2:59 AM

New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper (concussion) carved out standalone fantasy value in his role behind Hunter Henry last season, but he has failed to establish himself as a worthwhile fantasy addition during the 2025 campaign. He went from the overall TE24 in PPR leagues last year to TE45 through Week 11 this season. The 31-year-old hasn't registered more than three targets in a single game this season, which is a major step backward after he averaged 3.5 targets per game in 2024. While Henry has cemented himself as the Patriots' top tight end and is one reason for Hooper's underwhelming year, the bigger factor is likely the wide receivers' increased productivity. Players like Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, and Mack Hollins have elevated this position room higher than in years past, leaving fewer opportunities for a backup tight end like Hooper. An injury has complicated his status even more, as Hooper missed Week 11 in concussion protocol and remains up in the air for Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Even if he plays, he'll remain off the fantasy radar in all leagues. His only path to fantasy relevance would be a Hunter Henry injury.

Wednesday, November 19, 6:23 PM

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that tight end Tyler Higbee (ankle) will go on Injured Reserve, according to Adam Grosbard of the Los Angeles Daily News. Higbee will be forced to miss at least the next four games. The earliest he'll be available to return for the Rams will be for their Week 16 matchup against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks. The 32-year-old wasn't really moving the fantasy needle much before his ankle injury, catching 20 of his 30 targets for 190 yards and two touchdowns for L.A. in nine games played (seven starts). With Higbee now out of the picture for the foreseeable future, all three of Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, and Davis Allen could see more targets, with Ferguson being the most attractive flier for fantasy managers in TE-premium leagues.