Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Austin Hooper vs Juwan JohnsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Juwan Johnson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.3 PPG to Austin Hooper's 4.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Juwan Johnson is the better fantasy play this season.

Juwan Johnson is the better play on a neutral week. 8.3 PPG with 889 yards gives a reliable baseline. Austin Hooper at 4.0 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Juwan Johnson higher, but do not fade Austin Hooper entirely.

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

TENew Orleans Saints#17PPG LEADER

Juwan Johnson

PPG

8.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

889

Rec TDs

Targets

102

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Austin Hooper

Juwan Johnson

Head to Head

4.0 PPG8.3 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Hooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Juwan Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #17 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Austin Hooper is producing at 18% of elite pace and Juwan Johnson at 38%. That ranking gap means Juwan Johnson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Austin Hooper vs Juwan Johnson: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Austin Hooper and Juwan Johnson is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The New England Patriots tight end put up 4.0 PPG in 2025 over 15 games; Juwan Johnson of the New Orleans Saints averaged 8.3 in 17. A 4.3-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 4.3 points favors Juwan Johnson, 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.

Juwan Johnson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 77 receptions for 889 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 Juwan Johnson, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Austin Hooper is off Week 14 and Juwan Johnson 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

Juwan Johnson 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. Juwan Johnson (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Juwan Johnson outscored Austin Hooper by a projected 73 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Juwan Johnson played 17 games in 2025 compared to Austin Hooper's 15. That durability gap means Juwan Johnson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Juwan Johnson scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Juwan Johnson saw 102 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 Juwan Johnson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Austin Hooper	Juwan Johnson
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	8.3
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	60	141
Receptions	32	77
Rec/Game	2.1	4.5
Receiving Yards	292	889
Rec Yds/Game	19.5	52.3
Receiving TDs	1	3
Targets	42	102
Target Share/Game	2.8	6.0
Age	-	29
Experience	-	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 8

Summary

8.3 PPG for Juwan Johnson versus 4.0 for Austin Hooper in 2025. The baseline favors Juwan Johnson, 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 Juwan Johnson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Juwan Johnson has the edge at 8.3 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 Juwan Johnson average in 2025?▾

Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Juwan Johnson averaged 8.3 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 4.3 points per game.

When are Austin Hooper and Juwan Johnson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Austin Hooper (NE) has a bye in Week 14, and Juwan Johnson (NO) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Austin Hooper or Juwan Johnson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Juwan Johnson outscored Austin Hooper by 4.3 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.