Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Austin Hooper vs Oronde Gadsden IIWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Oronde Gadsden II is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.1 PPG to Austin Hooper's 4.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Oronde Gadsden II is the better fantasy play this season.

Oronde Gadsden II has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.1-PPG advantage is real (7.1 to 4.0), and Oronde Gadsden II's 3 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

TELos Angeles Chargers#23PPG LEADER

Oronde Gadsden II

PPG

7.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

664

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Austin Hooper

Oronde Gadsden II

Head to Head

4.0 PPG7.1 PPG

15 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Hooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Oronde Gadsden II: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #23 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Austin Hooper is producing at 18% of elite pace and Oronde Gadsden II at 32%. That ranking gap means Oronde Gadsden II carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Austin Hooper vs Oronde Gadsden II: 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. Oronde Gadsden II (Los Angeles Chargers) came in at 7.1 PPG over 15 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Oronde Gadsden II carries a 3.1-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.

Oronde Gadsden II is the volume tight end in this matchup with 49 receptions for 664 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 Oronde Gadsden II, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Austin Hooper sits Week 14 while Oronde Gadsden II is off Week 7. 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 Oronde Gadsden II 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. Oronde Gadsden II (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Oronde Gadsden II outscored Austin Hooper by a projected 53 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Oronde Gadsden II scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Oronde Gadsden II saw 69 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 Oronde Gadsden II: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Austin Hooper	Oronde Gadsden II
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	7.1
Games Played	15	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	60	107
Receptions	32	49
Rec/Game	2.1	3.3
Receiving Yards	292	664
Rec Yds/Game	19.5	44.3
Receiving TDs	1	3
Targets	42	69
Target Share/Game	2.8	4.6
Age	-	22
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 7

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Oronde Gadsden II holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 7.1 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 Oronde Gadsden II in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Oronde Gadsden II has the edge at 7.1 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 Oronde Gadsden II average in 2025?▾

Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Oronde Gadsden II averaged 7.1 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 3.1 points per game.

When are Austin Hooper and Oronde Gadsden II's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Austin Hooper (NE) has a bye in Week 14, and Oronde Gadsden II (LAC) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Austin Hooper or Oronde Gadsden II a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Oronde Gadsden II outscored Austin Hooper by 3.1 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.