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Head to Head

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Austin Hooper vs Pat FreiermuthWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Pat Freiermuth is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 6.2 PPG to Austin Hooper's 4.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Pat Freiermuth is the better fantasy play this season.

Pat Freiermuth is the better play on a neutral week. 6.2 PPG with 486 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 Pat Freiermuth 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
15
Rec
32
Rec Yds
292
Rec TDs
1
Targets
42
Bye
Week 14
TEPittsburgh Steelers#28PPG LEADER
Pat Freiermuth
PPG
6.2
Games
15
Rec
41
Rec Yds
486
Rec TDs
4
Targets
54
Bye
Week 9

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Austin Hooper
Pat Freiermuth

Head to Head

4.0 PPG6.2 PPG
15 GP15 GP
Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Hooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Pat Freiermuth: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #28 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Austin Hooper is producing at 18% of elite pace and Pat Freiermuth at 28%. That ranking gap means Pat Freiermuth carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Austin Hooper vs Pat Freiermuth: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Austin Hooper and Pat Freiermuth for your lineup, you are not alone. Austin Hooper finished the 2025 season at 4.0 PPG for the New England Patriots (15 games), and Pat Freiermuth averaged 6.2 for the Pittsburgh Steelers (15 games).

That 2.2-point weekly advantage for Pat Freiermuth is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Austin Hooper had 32 catches for 292 yards; Pat Freiermuth posted 41 for 486. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Austin Hooper has his bye in Week 14, and Pat Freiermuth rests in Week 9. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

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. Pat Freiermuth (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Pat Freiermuth outscored Austin Hooper by a projected 37 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Pat Freiermuth scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
  • Pat Freiermuth saw 54 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 Pat Freiermuth: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatAustin HooperPat Freiermuth
PPG (Half-PPR)4.06.2
Games Played1515
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)6093
Receptions3241
Rec/Game2.12.7
Receiving Yards292486
Rec Yds/Game19.532.4
Receiving TDs14
Targets4254
Target Share/Game2.83.6
Age-27
Experience-4 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 14Week 9

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Pat Freiermuth at 6.2 PPG, 2.2 points per game above Austin Hooper's 4.0. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Austin Hooper or Pat Freiermuth in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Pat Freiermuth has the edge at 6.2 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 Pat Freiermuth average in 2025?

Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Pat Freiermuth averaged 6.2 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 2.2 points per game.

When are Austin Hooper and Pat Freiermuth's bye weeks in 2026?

Austin Hooper (NE) has a bye in Week 14, and Pat Freiermuth (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Austin Hooper or Pat Freiermuth a better fantasy tight end in 2026?

Pat Freiermuth outscored Austin Hooper by 2.2 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.