Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Austin Hooper vs Theo JohnsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Theo Johnson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.0 PPG to Austin Hooper's 4.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Theo Johnson is the better fantasy play this season.

Theo Johnson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.0-PPG advantage is real (7.0 to 4.0), and Theo Johnson's 5 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

TENew York Giants#24PPG LEADER

Theo Johnson

PPG

7.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

528

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Austin Hooper

Theo Johnson

Head to Head

4.0 PPG7.0 PPG

15 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Hooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Theo Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #24 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Austin Hooper is producing at 18% of elite pace and Theo Johnson at 32%. That ranking gap means Theo Johnson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Austin Hooper vs Theo Johnson: The Full Breakdown

Austin Hooper and Theo Johnson 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 Theo Johnson posted 7.0 PPG in 15 appearances for the New York Giants.

A 3.0-PPG gap gives Theo Johnson 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.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Austin Hooper had 32 catches for 292 yards; Theo Johnson posted 45 for 528. 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 Theo Johnson is off Week 8. 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 Theo Johnson 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. Theo Johnson (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Theo Johnson outscored Austin Hooper by a projected 51 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Theo Johnson scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Theo Johnson saw 74 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 Theo Johnson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Austin Hooper	Theo Johnson
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	7.0
Games Played	15	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	60	105
Receptions	32	45
Rec/Game	2.1	3.0
Receiving Yards	292	528
Rec Yds/Game	19.5	35.2
Receiving TDs	1	5
Targets	42	74
Target Share/Game	2.8	4.9
Age	-	25
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 8

Summary

Theo Johnson outscored Austin Hooper by 3.0 PPG in 2025 (7.0 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 Theo Johnson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Theo Johnson has the edge at 7.0 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 Theo Johnson average in 2025?▾

Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Theo Johnson averaged 7.0 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 3.0 points per game.

When are Austin Hooper and Theo Johnson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Austin Hooper (NE) has a bye in Week 14, and Theo Johnson (NYG) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Austin Hooper or Theo Johnson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Theo Johnson outscored Austin Hooper by 3.0 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.