Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Austin Hooper vs Harold Fannin Jr.Who should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Harold Fannin Jr. is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.4 PPG to Austin Hooper's 4.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Harold Fannin Jr. is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Harold Fannin Jr. outscored Austin Hooper by 5.4 PPG in 2025 with 7 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Harold Fannin Jr. 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

TECleveland Browns#9PPG LEADER

Harold Fannin Jr.

PPG

9.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

731

Rec TDs

Targets

107

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Austin Hooper

Harold Fannin Jr.

Head to Head

4.0 PPG9.4 PPG

15 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Hooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Harold Fannin Jr.: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #9 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Austin Hooper is producing at 18% of elite pace and Harold Fannin Jr. at 43%. That ranking gap means Harold Fannin Jr. carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Austin Hooper vs Harold Fannin Jr.: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Austin Hooper and Harold Fannin Jr. is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The New England Patriots tight end put up 4.0 PPG in 2025 over 15 games; Harold Fannin Jr. of the Cleveland Browns averaged 9.4 in 16. A 5.4-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 5.4 points favors Harold Fannin Jr., 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.

Harold Fannin Jr. is the volume tight end in this matchup with 72 receptions for 731 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 Harold Fannin Jr., but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Austin Hooper sits Week 14 while Harold Fannin Jr. is off Week 11. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Harold Fannin Jr. 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. Harold Fannin Jr. (age 21) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Harold Fannin Jr. outscored Austin Hooper by a projected 92 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Harold Fannin Jr. played 16 games in 2025 compared to Austin Hooper's 15. That durability gap means Harold Fannin Jr. contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Harold Fannin Jr. scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Harold Fannin Jr. saw 107 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 Harold Fannin Jr.: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Austin Hooper	Harold Fannin Jr.
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	9.4
Games Played	15	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	60	150
Receptions	32	72
Rec/Game	2.1	4.5
Receiving Yards	292	731
Rec Yds/Game	19.5	45.7
Receiving TDs	1	6
Targets	42	107
Target Share/Game	2.8	6.7
Age	-	21
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 11

Summary

9.4 PPG for Harold Fannin Jr. versus 4.0 for Austin Hooper in 2025. The baseline favors Harold Fannin Jr., 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 Harold Fannin Jr. in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Harold Fannin Jr. has the edge at 9.4 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 Harold Fannin Jr. average in 2025?▾

Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Harold Fannin Jr. averaged 9.4 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 5.4 points per game.

When are Austin Hooper and Harold Fannin Jr.'s bye weeks in 2026?▾

Austin Hooper (NE) has a bye in Week 14, and Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Austin Hooper or Harold Fannin Jr. a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Harold Fannin Jr. outscored Austin Hooper by 5.4 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.