Austin Hooper vs T.J. Hockenson: The Full Breakdown
If you are choosing between Austin Hooper and T.J. Hockenson 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 T.J. Hockenson averaged 5.8 for the Minnesota Vikings (15 games).
That 1.8-point weekly advantage for T.J. Hockenson 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.
T.J. Hockenson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 51 receptions for 438 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 T.J. Hockenson, but the floor gap is real.
Austin Hooper has his bye in Week 14, and T.J. Hockenson rests in Week 6. 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.
