Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Austin Hooper vs George KittleWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

George Kittle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to Austin Hooper's 4.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

George Kittle is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. George Kittle outscored Austin Hooper by 8.1 PPG in 2025 with 7 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, George Kittle is the clear pick. Austin Hooper profiles as a matchup-dependent tight end who can spike but lacks the consistent floor.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TENew England Patriots#99

Austin Hooper

PPG

4.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

292

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

TESan Francisco 49ers#3PPG LEADER

George Kittle

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

628

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Austin Hooper

George Kittle

Head to Head

4.0 PPG12.1 PPG

15 GP11 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Hooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). George Kittle: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #3 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Austin Hooper is producing at 18% of elite pace and George Kittle at 55%. That ranking gap means George Kittle carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Austin Hooper vs George Kittle: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two tight ends. George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers) averaged 12.1 PPG over 11 games in 2025, outscoring Austin Hooper (New England Patriots, 4.0 PPG) by 8.1 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

The per-game difference of 8.1 points favors George Kittle, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one tight end to the other.

George Kittle is the volume tight end in this matchup with 57 receptions for 628 yards, while Austin Hooper profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 32 catches). In weeks where Austin Hooper finds the end zone he out-scores George Kittle, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Austin Hooper is off Week 14 and George Kittle Week 8. 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

George Kittle is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Austin Hooper is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Austin Hooper (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. George Kittle (age 32) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•George Kittle outscored Austin Hooper by a projected 138 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Austin Hooper played 15 games in 2025 compared to George Kittle's 11. That durability gap means Austin Hooper contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•George Kittle scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•George Kittle saw 69 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 George Kittle: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Austin Hooper	George Kittle
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	12.1
Games Played	15	11
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	60	133
Receptions	32	57
Rec/Game	2.1	5.2
Receiving Yards	292	628
Rec Yds/Game	19.5	57.1
Receiving TDs	1	7
Targets	42	69
Target Share/Game	2.8	6.3
Age	-	32
Experience	-	8 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 8

Summary

12.1 PPG for George Kittle versus 4.0 for Austin Hooper in 2025. The baseline favors George Kittle, 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 George Kittle in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, George Kittle has the edge at 12.1 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 George Kittle average in 2025?▾

Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. George Kittle averaged 12.1 PPG over 11 games. That is a difference of 8.1 points per game.

When are Austin Hooper and George Kittle's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Austin Hooper (NE) has a bye in Week 14, and George Kittle (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Austin Hooper or George Kittle a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

George Kittle outscored Austin Hooper by 8.1 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.