Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Austin Hooper vs Jonnu SmithWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jonnu Smith is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.2 PPG to Austin Hooper's 4.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jonnu Smith is the better fantasy play this season.

Jonnu Smith has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.2-PPG advantage is real (8.2 to 4.0), and Jonnu Smith's 4 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.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Austin Hooper and Jonnu Smith in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

TENew England Patriots#99

Austin Hooper

PPG

4.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

292

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

TEMiami Dolphins#99PPG LEADER

Jonnu Smith

PPG

8.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

562

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Austin Hooper

Jonnu Smith

Head to Head

4.0 PPG8.2 PPG

15 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Hooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Jonnu Smith: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Austin Hooper is producing at 18% of elite pace and Jonnu Smith at 37%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Austin Hooper vs Jonnu Smith: The Full Breakdown

Austin Hooper and Jonnu Smith 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 Jonnu Smith posted 8.2 PPG in 15 appearances for the Miami Dolphins.

A 4.2-PPG gap gives Jonnu Smith 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.

Jonnu Smith is the volume tight end in this matchup with 52 receptions for 562 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 Jonnu Smith, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Austin Hooper sits Week 14 while Jonnu Smith is off Week 6. 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

If you can acquire Jonnu Smith 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. Jonnu Smith (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Jonnu Smith outscored Austin Hooper by a projected 71 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jonnu Smith scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Jonnu Smith saw 68 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 Jonnu Smith: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Austin Hooper	Jonnu Smith
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	8.2
Games Played	15	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	60	123
Receptions	32	52
Rec/Game	2.1	3.5
Receiving Yards	292	562
Rec Yds/Game	19.5	37.5
Receiving TDs	1	4
Targets	42	68
Target Share/Game	2.8	4.5
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 6

Summary

Jonnu Smith outscored Austin Hooper by 4.2 PPG in 2025 (8.2 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Austin Hooper vs Jonnu Smith

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Austin Hooper vs Jonnu Smith

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Austin Hooper or Jonnu Smith in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jonnu Smith has the edge at 8.2 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 Jonnu Smith average in 2025?▾

Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Jonnu Smith averaged 8.2 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 4.2 points per game.

When are Austin Hooper and Jonnu Smith's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Austin Hooper (NE) has a bye in Week 14, and Jonnu Smith (MIA) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Austin Hooper or Jonnu Smith a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Jonnu Smith outscored Austin Hooper by 4.2 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.