Who Should I Start? Leonard Fournette or Austin Hooper

Tuesday, January 16, 8:04 PM

The Buffalo Bills released running back Leonard Fournette from their practice squad on Tuesday. The Bills signed Fournette for some extra RB depth late in the season, and he saw action in Weeks 16 and 18 but carried the ball just 12 times for 40 yards. With injuries mounting on the defensive side of the ball for Buffalo heading into their Divisional Round matchup this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bills will focus on adding depth elsewhere besides the RB position. James Cook will remain the team's lead back this weekend against the Chiefs, with Ty Johnson and Latavius Murray continuing to provide depth behind him. Fournette is quickly approaching the end of his career and might struggle to latch on with another team for training camp this summer.

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.