RADIO
Austin Hooper signed a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders that could be worth up to $3.5 million. This move allows him to resurrect a career that has been in a freefall since his Pro Bowl 2019 season. Back then, the former third-round pick finished with 75 receptions for 787 yards and six touchdowns. Those numbers ranked him third among tight ends in fantasy points per game.
But since then, he has become an unreliable option in all formats. His standard points dropped from 67.5 in 2020 to 54.5 in 2021 and 56.4 in 2022. The same trend persisted for Hooper on PPR (113.5, 92.5, 97.4) and half-PPR (90.5, 73.5, 76.9).
While his production has taken a hit, the Stanford alumnus missed only one game over the last two seasons. Despite that durability, Chigoziem Okonkwo’s emergence during his rookie season made Hooper expendable. The seven-year veteran collected 444 yards and two touchdowns for the Tennessee Titans last season.
A Fresh Start In Las Vegas, Not In Fantasy
Trading Darren Waller to the New York Giants meant that there’s an opening for the Raiders’ starting tight end role. It puts Hooper in a fantastic position to prove he can still play. He will probably compete with O.J. Howard for a spot on the first team. However, head coach Josh McDaniels has a plan for both. The former New England Patriots deputy can resurrect the successful two tight-end sets he ran with Rob Gronkowski and the late Aaron Hernandez.
Making matters better is Jimmy Garoppolo’s acquisition. He is familiar with McDaniels’ system because of his time with the Patriots. He would need a crash course to remember the concepts but will get comfortable once he rediscovers the plays. A quarterback who thoroughly understands the offensive schemes will help eligible receivers like Hooper. He will know the hot routes and work on the progressions if the primary option is not open.
However, it’s too early to tell if Hooper will be an asset in fantasy during the 2023 season. Aside from sharing time with Howard, he might serve mainly as a run blocker for Josh Jacobs and Ameer Abdullah. Garoppolo also has a talented receiving corps featuring Jakobi Meyers, Hunter Renfrow, and Davante Adams. Therefore, the tight end from San Mateo, California, will get some looks if opposing defenses put extra bodies to shadow their wideouts.
It would be better to observe his performance for the first few games before considering him a steady contributor in fantasy football. That consideration makes him a long shot in standard, PPR, and half-PPR leagues. Don’t even bother taking a flier on him for dynasty and best-ball formats because several options can deliver more points.
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