Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Austin Hooper vs Kyle PittsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kyle Pitts is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.8 PPG to Austin Hooper's 4.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kyle Pitts is the better fantasy play this season.

Kyle Pitts is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 9.8 PPG and 928 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Austin Hooper (4.0 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Kyle Pitts as the starter and Austin Hooper as depth.

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

TEAtlanta Falcons#6PPG LEADER

Kyle Pitts

PPG

9.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

928

Rec TDs

Targets

118

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Austin Hooper

Kyle Pitts

Head to Head

4.0 PPG9.8 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Hooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Kyle Pitts: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #6 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Austin Hooper is producing at 18% of elite pace and Kyle Pitts at 45%. That ranking gap means Kyle Pitts carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Austin Hooper vs Kyle Pitts: The Full Breakdown

Austin Hooper and Kyle Pitts 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 Kyle Pitts posted 9.8 PPG in 17 appearances for the Atlanta Falcons.

A 5.8-PPG gap gives Kyle Pitts 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.

Kyle Pitts is the volume tight end in this matchup with 88 receptions for 928 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 Kyle Pitts, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Austin Hooper is off Week 14 and Kyle Pitts Week 11. 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 Kyle Pitts 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. Kyle Pitts (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Kyle Pitts outscored Austin Hooper by a projected 99 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kyle Pitts played 17 games in 2025 compared to Austin Hooper's 15. That durability gap means Kyle Pitts contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Kyle Pitts scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Kyle Pitts saw 118 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 Kyle Pitts: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Austin Hooper	Kyle Pitts
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	9.8
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	60	167
Receptions	32	88
Rec/Game	2.1	5.2
Receiving Yards	292	928
Rec Yds/Game	19.5	54.6
Receiving TDs	1	5
Targets	42	118
Target Share/Game	2.8	6.9
Age	-	25
Experience	-	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 11

Summary

Kyle Pitts outscored Austin Hooper by 5.8 PPG in 2025 (9.8 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Austin Hooper or Kyle Pitts in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kyle Pitts has the edge at 9.8 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 Kyle Pitts average in 2025?▾

Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Kyle Pitts averaged 9.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.8 points per game.

When are Austin Hooper and Kyle Pitts's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Austin Hooper (NE) has a bye in Week 14, and Kyle Pitts (ATL) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Austin Hooper or Kyle Pitts a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Kyle Pitts outscored Austin Hooper by 5.8 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.