Raiders' Austin Hooper: Facing competition for top role
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Hooper could slide to No. 2 on the depth chart after the Raiders selected fellow tight end Michael Mayer with the 35th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Vic Tafur of TheAthletic.com reports.
Hooper originally faced little competition for the top job at tight end when he signed with Las Vegas in March after the team dealt Darren Waller to the Giants, but Mayer projects to vulture first-team reps sooner rather than later. The rookie's introduction limits the ceiling on Hooper's fantasy outlook, and 2017 first rounder O.J. Howard could factor into the TE mix as well.
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Raiders' Austin Hooper: Headed to Las Vegas
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Hooper agreed Wednesday with the Raiders on a one-year, $2.75 million deal, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
After a two-year stint in Cleveland, Hooper joined the Titans for the 2022 campaign and appeared in all 17 games for the club, recording 41 catches for 444 yards and two touchdowns on 60 targets. In his new locale, Hooper is slated to lead a tight-end corps in transition. He'll be joined in Las Vegas by fellow free-agent addition O.J. Howard, while the Raiders dealt Darren Waller to the Giants last week and have not yet looked to re-sign free agent Foster Moreau. Given his team context, Hooper has a chance to earn enough targets from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in 2023 to merit attention in deeper fantasy formats.
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Titans' Austin Hooper: Four catches in Week 18
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Hooper recorded four catches on four targets for 38 yards in Saturday's 20-16 loss to the Jaguars.
Hooper tied for the third-most targets on the team and was relatively efficient with his opportunities, finishing with his highest catch and yardage totals since Week 14. While his numbers rebounded compared to his 2021 campaign with the Browns, Hooper was still in a timeshare with other tight ends on the Tennessee roster, including Chigoziem Okonkwo and Geoff Swaim. Hooper will hit free agency this offseason, and even if he returns to Tennessee, Okonkwo will likely step into a more significant role in 2023 to Hooper's detriment.
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Titans' Austin Hooper: Six yards on six targets
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Hooper recorded one catch on six targets for six yards in Thursday's 27-13 loss to the Cowboys.
Several of the Titans' pass catchers saw improved efficiency with Joshua Dobbs under center rather than Malik Willis. However, the opposite was true for Hooper, as he tallied his lowest yardage total since Week 8 despite seeing his second-highest target total of the season. Prior to Thursday's game, Hooper had managed multiple receptions in eight consecutive contests.
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Titans' Austin Hooper: Two catches in loss
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Hooper recorded two receptions on four targets for 20 yards in Saturday's 19-14 loss to the Texans.
Hooper tied for the team lead with four targets, though he didn't manage much production with the opportunity. He delivered a key 15-yard gain on a potential game-winning drive with only 15 seconds remaining, but Malik Willis threw an interception on the following play. Hooper has now earned at least four targets in seven consecutive games.
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Titans' Austin Hooper: Two catches against Chargers
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Hooper recorded two catches on four targets for 33 yards in Sunday's 17-14 loss to the Chargers.
Hooper played fewer snaps than both Chigoziem Okonkwo and Geoff Swaim, though he still was among three Titans with four targets. He made good use of the opportunity, and his 17-yard catch late in the fourth quarter led directly to a game-tying touchdown for Tennessee. After a slow start to the season, Hooper has at least 30 yards in seven of his last nine contests.
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Titans' Austin Hooper: Delivers 68 yards in loss
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Hooper recorded five receptions on five targets for 68 yards in Sunday's 36-22 loss to the Jaguars.
Hooper maintained a significant role in Tennessee's offense even with the emergence of Chigoziem Okonkwo, finishing tied for second on the team with five receptions. While he didn't find the end zone, Hooper managed explosive gains of 24 and 17 yards to account for the majority of his damage. He now has at least three receptions in each of his last five games, though he had previously failed to top 41 yards in that span.
Hooper may be the No. 1 pass catcher in Tennessee if Treylon Burks is out. He has 20 targets over the last four weeks, but the efficiency just hasn't been very good. The hope is that improves against the worst defense he's seen since Week 9.
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Titans' Austin Hooper: Three catches against Eagles
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Hooper recorded three receptions on five targets for 22 yards in Sunday's 35-10 loss to the Eagles.
Hooper had the majority of his involvement on a drive late in the second quarter, during which he caught a pair of nine-yard passes. He remains a part-time player with both Geoff Swaim and Chigoziem Okonkwo also working into the tight end rotation, though Hooper has at least three receptions in four consecutive games. While his workload appears relatively safe, Hooper has failed to surpass 41 yards in a game in that same span.
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Titans' Austin Hooper: Sit Him (Lineup Decisions)
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Hooper doesn't get enough volume to be anything more than a low-end touchdown-or-bust tight end in Week 13. You're much more likely to get a better scoring output from Tyler Conklin, Hayden Hurst or Foster Moreau.
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Titans' Austin Hooper: Posts 30 yards
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Hooper recorded three receptions on four targets for 30 yards in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Bengals.
Hooper continued to see consistent involvement in the Tennessee offense and tallied his third straight game with at least four targets. He recorded receptions of 12,10 and eight yards, all three of which came on the team's drive just before halftime. While unremarkable, Hooper has posted four consecutive games with at least 30 receiving yards.
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Titans' Austin Hooper: Sleeper TEs
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One reason for Ryan Tannehill playing better of late has been the production from Hooper. He has 11 targets in his past two games against Denver and Green Bay and has finished with nine catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns over that span. The Bengals have allowed four tight ends to score at least 12 PPR points this season, including Pat Freiermuth in Week 11, and hopefully Hooper can stay hot in this matchup. He's worth using as a low-end starter in all leagues.
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Titans' Austin Hooper: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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One reason for Ryan Tannehill playing better of late has been the production from Hooper. He has 11 targets in his past two games against Denver and Green Bay and has finished with nine catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns over that span. The Bengals have allowed four tight ends to score at least 12 PPR points this season, including Pat Freiermuth in Week 11, and hopefully Hooper can stay hot in this matchup. He's worth using as a low-end starter in all leagues.
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Titans' Austin Hooper: Week 12 Waiver Priority List
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Hooper is trending in the right direction with his production of late. He has 11 targets in his past two games against Denver and Green Bay and has finished with nine catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns over that span. Ryan Tannehill is looking for Hooper, and he's worth using as a low-end starter in all leagues for Week 12 against the Bengals. Hooper is worth at least 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Titans' Austin Hooper: Continues surge with pair of scores
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Hooper brought in all four targets for 36 yards and two touchdowns in the Titans' 27-17 win over the Packers on Thursday night.
The veteran tight end's tenure in Tennessee had mostly been a disappointment until Week 7, when Hooper started on an upward trajectory that culminated with his first pair of scoring grabs as a Titan. Hooper's first touchdown reception came on a nifty three-yard jump pass from Derrick Henry, and the second was a 16-yard grab on the first play of the fourth quarter that closed out the scoring on the night. Hooper now has a 15-172-2 line over his last five games, numbers he'll next have a chance to build on in a Week 12 home contest versus the Bengals a week from Sunday.
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Titans' Austin Hooper: Season-high five catches
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Hooper recorded five catches on seven targets for 41 yards in Sunday's 17-10 win over the Broncos.
The Titans took to the air more than is typically the case, as Derrick Henry was shut down on the ground. Hooper was a beneficiary, and he logged his highest target and reception total of the season. He did the majority of his damage late, as he tallied three catches for 29 yards in the final quarter. Hooper likely will continue to play a significant role in the passing game, though it's been difficult to predict when the Titans will choose to employ a more aggressive offensive approach.
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Titans' Austin Hooper: Nabs two catches in loss
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Hooper had two receptions (three targets) for 34 yards in Sunday's 20-17 overtime loss to the Chiefs.
Hooper actually turned in his one of his better stat lines in a game where his starting quarterback completed just five passes. The 27-year-old still owns a paltry 12/150/0 receiving line through eight starts, making him a non-factor in most fantasy formats heading into a matchup with Denver next Sunday.
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Titans' Austin Hooper: Limited to one catch
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Hooper recorded one catch on one target for five yards in Sunday's 17-10 win over the Texans.
The Titans went to an extremely run-heavy approach with Malik Willis under center, who attempted only 10 passes in the game. As a result, no Titans pass catcher tallied more than two receptions or 26 yards in the contest. Hooper now has recorded single-digit receiving yards in four of seven games on the campaign.
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Titans' Austin Hooper: Leads way with 56 yards
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Hooper recorded three receptions on three targets for 56 yards in Sunday's 19-10 win over the Colts.
Hooper turned in his best game as a Titan, as he managed lengthy receptions of 23,19 and 14 yards to lead the team in receiving. Prior to Sunday's matchup, Hooper had failed to surpass 19 receiving yards in any matchup, so it's unclear whether he will continue to see an increased role in the offense. Like every Titans' pass catcher, Hooper should primarily be targeted in games where the team is chasing points.
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Titans' Austin Hooper: Limited to one target
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Hooper hauled in his lone target for seven yards in Sunday's 21-17 win over the Commanders.
Hooper was on the field for 33 snaps, his highest total since Week 1. However, he remained a minimal part of the Titans' passing attack and has racked up more than one reception in a game only once this season. Overall, Hooper has six catches for 55 yards across five games.
