Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Austin Hooper vs Dawson KnoxWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Dawson Knox is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 5.4 PPG to Austin Hooper's 4.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Dawson Knox is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Dawson Knox and Austin Hooper are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 1.4-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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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#33PPG LEADER

Dawson Knox

PPG

5.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

417

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Austin Hooper

Dawson Knox

Head to Head

4.0 PPG5.4 PPG

15 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Hooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Dawson Knox: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #33 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Austin Hooper is producing at 18% of elite pace and Dawson Knox at 25%. That ranking gap means Dawson Knox carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Austin Hooper vs Dawson Knox: The Full Breakdown

The gap between Austin Hooper and Dawson Knox is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 1.4 PPG in 2025, this is one of those tight end decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 PPG with the New England Patriots across 15 games, and Dawson Knox posted 5.4 with the Buffalo Bills in 16.

When two tight ends are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Austin Hooper had 32 catches for 292 yards; Dawson Knox posted 36 for 417. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Austin Hooper has his bye in Week 14, and Dawson Knox rests in Week 7. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Austin Hooper (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Dawson Knox (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Dawson Knox outscored Austin Hooper by a projected 24 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Dawson Knox played 16 games in 2025 compared to Austin Hooper's 15. That durability gap means Dawson Knox contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Dawson Knox scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Dawson Knox 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 Dawson Knox: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Austin Hooper	Dawson Knox
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	5.4
Games Played	15	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	60	86
Receptions	32	36
Rec/Game	2.1	2.3
Receiving Yards	292	417
Rec Yds/Game	19.5	26.1
Receiving TDs	1	4
Targets	42	49
Target Share/Game	2.8	3.1
Age	-	29
Experience	-	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 7

Summary

5.4 PPG for Dawson Knox versus 4.0 for Austin Hooper in 2025. The baseline favors Dawson Knox, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Austin Hooper or Dawson Knox in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Dawson Knox has the edge at 5.4 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 Dawson Knox average in 2025?▾

Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Dawson Knox averaged 5.4 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 1.4 points per game.

When are Austin Hooper and Dawson Knox's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Austin Hooper or Dawson Knox a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Dawson Knox outscored Austin Hooper by 1.4 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.