Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Austin Hooper vs Dalton KincaidWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Dalton Kincaid is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.9 PPG to Austin Hooper's 4.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Dalton Kincaid is the better fantasy play this season.

Dalton Kincaid has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.9-PPG advantage is real (8.9 to 4.0), and Dalton Kincaid's 5 touchdowns show scoring upside. Austin Hooper is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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TENew England Patriots#99

Austin Hooper

PPG

4.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

292

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

TEBuffalo Bills#11PPG LEADER

Dalton Kincaid

PPG

8.9

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

571

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Austin Hooper

Dalton Kincaid

Head to Head

4.0 PPG8.9 PPG

15 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Hooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Dalton Kincaid: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #11 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Austin Hooper is producing at 18% of elite pace and Dalton Kincaid at 40%. That ranking gap means Dalton Kincaid carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Austin Hooper vs Dalton Kincaid: The Full Breakdown

Austin Hooper and Dalton Kincaid are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 PPG across 15 games with the New England Patriots, while Dalton Kincaid posted 8.9 PPG in 12 appearances for the Buffalo Bills.

A 4.9-PPG gap gives Dalton Kincaid the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Austin Hooper had 32 catches for 292 yards; Dalton Kincaid posted 39 for 571. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

One scheduling note: Austin Hooper is off Week 14 and Dalton Kincaid Week 7. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Dalton Kincaid at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Austin Hooper is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Austin Hooper (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Dalton Kincaid (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Dalton Kincaid outscored Austin Hooper by a projected 83 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Austin Hooper played 15 games in 2025 compared to Dalton Kincaid's 12. That durability gap means Austin Hooper contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Dalton Kincaid scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Dalton Kincaid saw 49 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Austin Hooper vs Dalton Kincaid: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Austin Hooper	Dalton Kincaid
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	8.9
Games Played	15	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	60	107
Receptions	32	39
Rec/Game	2.1	3.3
Receiving Yards	292	571
Rec Yds/Game	19.5	47.6
Receiving TDs	1	5
Targets	42	49
Target Share/Game	2.8	4.1
Age	-	26
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 7

Summary

Dalton Kincaid outscored Austin Hooper by 4.9 PPG in 2025 (8.9 to 4.0). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Austin Hooper or Dalton Kincaid in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Dalton Kincaid has the edge at 8.9 PPG compared to Austin Hooper's 4.0 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Austin Hooper and Dalton Kincaid average in 2025?▾

Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Dalton Kincaid averaged 8.9 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 4.9 points per game.

When are Austin Hooper and Dalton Kincaid's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Austin Hooper (NE) has a bye in Week 14, and Dalton Kincaid (BUF) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Austin Hooper or Dalton Kincaid a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Dalton Kincaid outscored Austin Hooper by 4.9 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.