Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Austin Hooper vs Mason TaylorWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Mason Taylor is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 5.1 PPG to Austin Hooper's 4.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Mason Taylor is the better fantasy play this season.

This one is genuinely close. Mason Taylor edges Austin Hooper by 1.1 PPG, but both are in the same production tier. The decision comes down to weekly matchup, not season-long resume. If you are choosing between them in a draft, Mason Taylor goes slightly earlier based on volume, but do not reach for the difference.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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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 York Jets#34PPG LEADER

Mason Taylor

PPG

5.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

369

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Austin Hooper

Mason Taylor

Head to Head

4.0 PPG5.1 PPG

15 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Hooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Mason Taylor: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #34 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Austin Hooper is producing at 18% of elite pace and Mason Taylor at 23%. That ranking gap means Mason Taylor carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Austin Hooper vs Mason Taylor: The Full Breakdown

Austin Hooper (4.0 PPG) and Mason Taylor (5.1 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two tight ends are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Austin Hooper played 15 games for the New England Patriots; Mason Taylor suited up 13 times for the New York Jets.

A 1.1-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Austin Hooper had 32 catches for 292 yards; Mason Taylor posted 44 for 369. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Austin Hooper sits Week 14 while Mason Taylor is off Week 13. 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Austin Hooper (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Mason Taylor (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Mason Taylor outscored Austin Hooper by a projected 19 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Austin Hooper played 15 games in 2025 compared to Mason Taylor's 13. That durability gap means Austin Hooper contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Austin Hooper scored 1 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Mason Taylor saw 65 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 Mason Taylor: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Austin Hooper	Mason Taylor
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	5.1
Games Played	15	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	60	66
Receptions	32	44
Rec/Game	2.1	3.4
Receiving Yards	292	369
Rec Yds/Game	19.5	28.4
Receiving TDs	1	1
Targets	42	65
Target Share/Game	2.8	5.0
Age	-	22
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 13

Summary

Mason Taylor outscored Austin Hooper by 1.1 PPG in 2025 (5.1 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 Mason Taylor in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Mason Taylor has the edge at 5.1 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 Mason Taylor average in 2025?▾

Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Mason Taylor averaged 5.1 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 1.1 points per game.

When are Austin Hooper and Mason Taylor's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Austin Hooper (NE) has a bye in Week 14, and Mason Taylor (NYJ) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Austin Hooper or Mason Taylor a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Mason Taylor outscored Austin Hooper by 1.1 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.