Who Should I Start? Tyler Boyd or Austin Hooper

Saturday, April 6, 8:20 PM

According to Mark Kaboly of The Athletic, free agent wide receiver Tyler Boyd doesn't appear to be heading to the Steelers. "From what I have been told, Boyd was extremely interested in Pittsburgh at the beginning of the free-agency process," wrote Kaboly. "But the offer wasn't something he was comfortable with." It's only April, so it is possible both sides could revisit things after the NFL Draft. However, Boyd should have more than a few teams willing to sign him, with recent reports suggesting that the Chiefs, Chargers, Dolphins, Lions, and 49ers have expressed interest in bringing him in. With that said, the 2016 No. 55 overall pick is coming off a down year, amassing 67 catches for 667 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games. Yet, Boyd should still command attention from fantasy managers heading into the 2024-25 campaign, although his outlook is contingent on where he lands during the offseason.

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.