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Austin Hooper vs Taysom HillWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Taysom Hill is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 5.5 PPG to Austin Hooper's 4.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Taysom Hill is the better fantasy play this season.

Taysom Hill is the better play on a neutral week. 5.5 PPG with 480 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 Taysom Hill higher, but do not fade Austin Hooper entirely.

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
15
Rec
32
Rec Yds
292
Rec TDs
1
Targets
42
Bye
Week 14
TENew Orleans Saints#99PPG LEADER
Taysom Hill
PPG
5.5
Games
14
Rec
18
Rec Yds
195
Rec TDs
2
Bye
Week 12

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Austin Hooper
Taysom Hill

Head to Head

4.0 PPG5.5 PPG
15 GP14 GP
Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Hooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Taysom Hill: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Austin Hooper is producing at 18% of elite pace and Taysom Hill at 25%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Austin Hooper vs Taysom Hill: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Austin Hooper and Taysom Hill 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 Taysom Hill averaged 5.5 for the New Orleans Saints (14 games).

That 1.5-point weekly advantage for Taysom Hill 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; Taysom Hill posted 18 for 195. 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 Taysom Hill rests in Week 12. 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. Taysom Hill (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Taysom Hill outscored Austin Hooper by a projected 26 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Austin Hooper played 15 games in 2025 compared to Taysom Hill's 14. That durability gap means Austin Hooper contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Taysom Hill scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Austin Hooper vs Taysom Hill: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatAustin HooperTaysom Hill
PPG (Half-PPR)4.05.5
Games Played1514
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)6077
Receptions3218
Rec/Game2.11.3
Receiving Yards292195
Rec Yds/Game19.513.9
Receiving TDs12
Targets420
Target Share/Game2.80.0
Bye WeekWeek 14Week 12

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Taysom Hill at 5.5 PPG, 1.5 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 Taysom Hill in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Taysom Hill has the edge at 5.5 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 Taysom Hill average in 2025?

Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Taysom Hill averaged 5.5 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 1.5 points per game.

When are Austin Hooper and Taysom Hill's bye weeks in 2026?

Austin Hooper (NE) has a bye in Week 14, and Taysom Hill (NO) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Austin Hooper or Taysom Hill a better fantasy tight end in 2026?

Taysom Hill outscored Austin Hooper by 1.5 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.