Who Should I Start? Austin Hooper or Tyler Higbee

Sunday, March 9, 8:57 PM

The New England Patriots are re-signing veteran tight end Austin Hooper to a one-year, $5 million deal with a max value of $7 million. Hooper, a two-time Pro Bowler, notched 45 receptions and 476 yards with New England a season ago, his highest marks since his 2021 stint with the Cleveland Browns. While he began the 2024 season cold, the 30-year-old picked it up over the back half -- racking up four catches in five of his last seven appearances as then-rookie signal-caller Drake Maye got acclimated to the NFL. The Stanford product played second fiddle to fellow tight end Hunter Henry last season and figures to do so again if his teammate stays healthy, as the latter out-paced the former handily in snaps (835-575) despite playing in one fewer contest. It's possible Hooper returns some TE2 value this upcoming season, but he's better off left to waivers until he proves otherwise.

Monday, March 3, 6:15 PM

Los Angeles Rams veteran tight end Tyler Higbee and veteran right tackle Rob Havenstein will both be back with the team in 2025, according to head coach Sean McVay. There were questions as to whether the Rams would keep either player after coming off recent injuries and heading into the last year of their respective deals. Even though Havenstein is expected to be back, The Athletic's Jourdan Rodriguez expects the Rams to target a right tackle in the upcoming NFL draft. Higbee, 32, had surgery on his knee and shoulder last offseason that forced him to miss all but three of the team's regular-season games in 2024. In his three games, he caught eight of 12 targets for 66 yards and two touchdowns and added 12 catches on 15 targets for 112 yards and a TD in two playoff games. With receiver Cooper Kupp likely to be traded this offseason, Higbee could be a sleeper TE to target in fantasy this fall.