Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Austin Hooper vs Jake TongesWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jake Tonges is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.5 PPG to Austin Hooper's 4.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jake Tonges is the better fantasy play this season.

Jake Tonges has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.5-PPG advantage is real (8.5 to 4.0), and Jake Tonges'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

TESan Francisco 49ers#15PPG LEADER

Jake Tonges

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

293

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Austin Hooper

Jake Tonges

Head to Head

4.0 PPG8.5 PPG

15 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Hooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Jake Tonges: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #15 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Austin Hooper is producing at 18% of elite pace and Jake Tonges at 39%. That ranking gap means Jake Tonges carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Austin Hooper vs Jake Tonges: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Austin Hooper (New England Patriots) finished the 2025 season averaging 4.0 fantasy points per game in 15 games. Jake Tonges (San Francisco 49ers) came in at 8.5 PPG over 9 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Jake Tonges carries a 4.5-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Austin Hooper had 32 catches for 292 yards; Jake Tonges posted 34 for 293. 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 Jake Tonges 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

If you can acquire Jake Tonges 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. Jake Tonges (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Jake Tonges outscored Austin Hooper by a projected 77 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Austin Hooper played 15 games in 2025 compared to Jake Tonges's 9. That durability gap means Austin Hooper contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jake Tonges scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Jake Tonges saw 46 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 Jake Tonges: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Austin Hooper	Jake Tonges
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	8.5
Games Played	15	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	60	77
Receptions	32	34
Rec/Game	2.1	3.8
Receiving Yards	292	293
Rec Yds/Game	19.5	32.6
Receiving TDs	1	5
Targets	42	46
Target Share/Game	2.8	5.1
Age	-	26
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Jake Tonges holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 8.5 points per game. Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Austin Hooper or Jake Tonges in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jake Tonges has the edge at 8.5 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 Jake Tonges average in 2025?▾

Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Jake Tonges averaged 8.5 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 4.5 points per game.

When are Austin Hooper and Jake Tonges's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Austin Hooper or Jake Tonges a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Jake Tonges outscored Austin Hooper by 4.5 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.