Austin

Hooper

Pitts was the recipient of Michael Penix’s first completion of the 2026 season, with the latter making his season debut following ACL surgery. The return of his starting quarterback was not enough to give Pitts his first fantasy-relevant performance of the season as he watched blocking tight end Austin Hooper score the lone receiving touchdown of the evening from five yards out in the second quarter. Fantasy managers are stuck in the constant hype cycle with Pitts with very little to show for it through three games, making Pitts a difficult start on the road against the Saints in Week 4.

Kyle Pitts has a caddy for 2026. Hooper spent the first four years of his career with Atlanta, but has not started more than 10 games since 2021 and is likely just a backup barring some sort of shocking Pitts trade. At 32, Hooper will be well off the fantasy radar. It’s a fine depth signing for Atlanta.

Hooper’s second season in New England produced the second fewest yards (263) of his 10-year career. The lowest total came in 2023 in Las Vegas. Hooper has a reliable pair of hands for a backup, but has never been a reliable scorer. He still possesses some down-field juice up the seam, but Hooper’s returns will continue to diminish. He is set for free agency in March.

Hooper saw some extra run this week with the Pats missing multiple starting receivers. He got on the board early with a two-yard score on New England’s opening drive. The Pats didn’t need him much after that. Hooper is a good backup tight end, but not someone fantasy managers need to worry about for Week 18.

Hollins played a large role for the Patriots due to his willingness and ability to block in the run game, something that isn’t likely to be made up for outside of a drastic shift to heavier rates of 12-personnel. Austin Hooper could see a significant role the rest of the way, starting in Week 17 against the Jets. That said, he isn’t likely to carry enough upside to be of use in fantasy circles.

Hooper was third on the team in targets and second on the team in both catches and receiving yards. It was clear that the Patriots saw an advantage with their tight ends against the Bengals’ safeties and linebackers and exploited it often on Sunday. Hooper can’t be relied on in fantasy leagues next week against the Giants.

Hooper should not be rostered anywhere, having earned two targets or fewer since Week 3. He may end up stealing an opportunity from TE Hunter Henry, but Hooper is mostly paid to run cardio in between blocking reps. The Patriots face the Bengals in Week 12.

Hooper will need to get in a full practice before being cleared from the league’s concussion protocol. He should be able to do so over the next two days. Hooper has stolen the occasional chunk gain from Hunter Henry this year, but he is not on the fantasy radar for Week 12.

Jennings will give it a go as the Patriots’ short-yardage back, though he is tough to trust as more than a touchdown-dependent FLEX. The Patriots declared DT Joshua Farmer, G Caedan Wallace, QB Tommy DeVito, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, LB Christian Elliss, TE Austin Hooper and WR Kayshon Boutte inactive for Week 11 against the Jets. Stevenson will miss his third straight game with a toe injury, while Boutte will miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury. Last week, rookie WR Kyle Williams scored a 72-yard touchdown by catching one of his two targets. He should be rostered where available, but he makes for a zero-floor, boom-bust FLEX starter this week.

Boutte returned to practice this week for a few limited sessions, but the turnaround to Thursday Night Football was too quick for him to get back on the field. He will eye a Week 12 return. Mack Hollins will take his place in the lineup versus the Jets. Hollins caught six passes for 106 yards in Week 10. He will be a boom/bust WR4 as Drake Maye’s primary deep threat versus a dreadful New York defense. Austin Hooper was also ruled out, freeing up a few more routes for Hollins and fellow wideout Kyle Williams.