Austin Hooper 2026 fantasy outlook and rest-of-season projection
- Age
- 31
- Height / weight
- 6'4", 254 lb
- Experience
- 11th season
- Drafted
- 2016 R3, #81
2026 Season
- PPR PPG
- 4.4
- Pos rank
- TE38
- Rostered
- —
Week 4 at Saints, Mon Oct 5, 8:15 PM ET 3rd vs. TEs, favorable
Austin Hooper Rest-of-Season Outlook
depth TE for deep leagues only
Preseason Projection vs. Reality
He finished TE47 last season at 3.7 points per game.
Our Take After Week 4
Through 3 games he's TE38 at 4.4 PPR points per game, against 3.7 over 16 games last season (TE47). The role is producing the same fantasy output two years running.
Last season he ranked 45th of 81 in route participation (37.6%), 49th of 82 in target share (5.4%) and 35th of 82 in efficiency (1.27 yards per route run). Target share is the soft spot. Cooper Rush is his quarterback.
He's TE3 on the depth chart, so his value depends on the players ahead of him.
The next favorable matchup is the Saints in Week 4 (3rd against TEs).
Read our preseason outlook (June 2026)
Published June 16, 2026. Kept for reference; the take above replaces it.
Hooper's 2025 line tells the story of a fading complementary piece: 13 games, a 5.4% target share on just 26 looks, and 263 yards with two scores good for TE45. He ran routes on only 37.6% of dropbacks and posted a 0.126 target-per-route-run rate, both well off his 2024 marks of 47% and 0.217. The efficiency flashes are real but empty calories for fantasy, a 0.646 EPA per play, a 73.1% success rate, and an 80.8% catch rate on tiny volume.
Now back in Atlanta, he slides in behind Kyle Pitts as the clear second tight end on a one-year deal. His ranking sits around TE59 with an ADP outside pick 440, and the math backs the gloom: five red-zone targets and a 1.27 yards-per-route-run figure won't move the needle. Until injury opens a path to snaps, treat him as a deep-league name to monitor rather than draft.
What Drives His Outlook
His 2025 rank among the 81 tight ends who played at least six games. Each bar is one tight end, best on the left; his is highlighted.
Route participation
Target share
Efficiency
- Average depth of target
- 9.0
- Drop rate
- 0.0%
- Red-zone targets
- 5
- Route participation
- 37.6%
- YAC per reception
- 4.1
What Could Change His Value
Upside
- A soft spotThe Saints in Week 4 is a top-10 matchup for TEs.Wk 4 NO, 3rdWk 5 BAL, 20thWk 6 CHI, 26thWk 7 SF, 21st
Risk
- RoleHe's TE3 on the depth chart.
- A tough matchupThe Bears in Week 6 (26th) is among the stingiest defenses against TEs.
All Austin Hooper stats & analysis
TEs like Austin Hooper
Austin Hooper Fantasy Outlook FAQ
What is Austin Hooper's fantasy outlook for the rest of the 2026 season?
Austin Hooper projects as a depth TE for deep leagues only for the rest of the 2026 season: a bench stash in TE-premium leagues and waiver-wire material in 12-team and 10-team leagues. His target share (5.4% target share, 49th of 82 TEs in 2025) holds him back. See his live rank in Redraft Command.
What is Austin Hooper's rest-of-season fantasy ranking?
Austin Hooper is the TE38 in PPR points per game through Week 4. That puts him in depth TE territory, waiver-wire material in 12-team leagues.
What is Austin Hooper's projected role going forward?
Austin Hooper is TE3 on the depth chart, so a bigger role needs an injury or a change ahead of him.
Will Austin Hooper get more targets?
Austin Hooper's targets are holding steady: 3.0 a game over his last two games against 2.0 for the season. His share of the offense is what his fantasy value rides on.
What is Austin Hooper's fantasy football upside?
Austin Hooper's upside: his ceiling this season is 9.1 PPR points (Week 3, TE20) and the Saints in Week 4 is a top-10 matchup for TEs.
What could hurt Austin Hooper's fantasy value?
Austin Hooper's risks: his target share (5.4% target share, 49th of 82 TEs in 2025) limits his scoring and the Bears in Week 6 is a tough matchup. See his injury status and history.
How difficult is Austin Hooper's remaining fantasy schedule?
Favorable: of his next seven games, 2 come against a top-10 matchup for TEs and 1 against one of the stingiest defenses, by PPR points allowed to the position.