Hooper will compete with rookie top-35 pick Michael Mayer and veteran O.J. Howard for snaps and targets in Las Vegas. Although projected starting QB Jimmy Garoppolo has generated production out of the tight end position throughout his career, Hooper hasn't given much reason for optimism that he can be a Fantasy asset. Hooper finished inside the top 12 at TE just twice in 2022 and one of those games featured two short touchdowns - his only two of the season. Hooper is best left undrafted.
Hooper caught one pass for 14 yards on two targets in Sunday's 31-17 loss to the Chiefs.
Hooper wasn't targeted until the fourth quarter Sunday, while fellow tight end Michael Mayer saw four looks from quarterback Aidan O'Connell throughout the contest. Hooper figures to remain Las Vegas' No. 2 TE option when the Raiders return from their bye against the Vikings in Week 14.
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Raiders' Austin Hooper: Targeted once in road loss
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Hooper was unable to catch his only target in Sunday's 20-13 loss to the Dolphins.
Hooper played 29 of a possible 61 offensive snaps Sunday, but rookie Michael Mayer earned five targets on the way to a 4-46-0 line. Mayer remains the only Raiders tight end worth rostering, as Hooper likely continues to serve primarily as a blocker against the Chiefs in Week 12.
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Raiders' Austin Hooper: Makes one reception on SNF
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Hooper caught his only target for seven yards in Sunday's 16-12 win over the Jets.
Hooper managed to overcome a minor calf injury that limited him in practice this past Wednesday and Thursday, but he was overshadowed by fellow tight end Michael Mayer on Sunday Night Football as the rookie played 56 of a possible 64 offensive snaps and caught his first career touchdown in the process. Hooper figures to retain the No. 2 TE role for Las Vegas against the Dolphins in Week 11.
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Raiders' Austin Hooper: Cleared for Sunday
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Hooper (calf) doesn't carry an injury designation ahead of Sunday night's game against the Jets.
Hooper was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday, but a full session Friday on his part set the stage for the tight end to be available Sunday. Over the course of nine games, Hooper has recorded just 13 catches for 128 yards, a modest rate of production that keeps him off the fantasy radar in most formats.
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Raiders' Austin Hooper: Targeted once in win
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Hooper caught his only target for 10 yards in Sunday's 30-6 win over the Giants.
Hooper continues to play behind rookie tight end Michael Mayer, but neither option has been able to reach significant fantasy relevance as Josh Jacobs, Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers remain focal points. Hooper figures to take a back seat to Mayer again versus the Jets in Week 10.
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Raiders' Austin Hooper: Two grabs in loss
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Hooper caught both of his targets for 19 yards in Monday's 26-14 loss to the Lions.
Hooper played just 10 of the Raiders' 46 offensive snaps Monday, with his 22 percent snap share going down as his lowest rate of the season. With rookie tight end Michael Mayer having emerged as the team's top option at the position, Hooper has become an afterthought in the team's offensive scheme. Hooper will likely continue in a backup role going forward, barring an injury to Mayer.
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Raiders' Austin Hooper: Two receptions Sunday
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Hooper caught both of his targets for 18 yards in Sunday's 30-12 loss to the Bears.
The veteran tight end has seen his playing time dwindle due to the rise of rookie Michael Mayer over the Raiders' past couple contests, and Hooper logged only 22 offensive snaps in Chicago on Sunday. Additionally, he has earned just 11 total targets through the first seven weeks of the season.
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Raiders' Austin Hooper: Pair of catches on MNF
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Hooper caught both of his targets for 11 yards in Monday's 17-13 win over the Packers.
Hooper (36) played nearly as many offensive snaps as Michael Mayer (42), but the rookie posted a season-high 39 yards on his own two receptions. Mayer could earn more opportunities as the season wears on, but for now the timeshare at tight end remains fairly evenly split ahead of the Raiders' Week 6 tilt against the Patriots.
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Raiders' Austin Hooper: Held to one catch in loss
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Hooper caught one pass for 11 yards on two targets in Sunday's 24-17 loss to the Chargers.
Hooper has yet to earn more than two targets in a single contest through his first four games as a Raider, ultimately posting a 4-51-0 line this season. Fellow tight end Michael Mayer has been even less involved through the air, leaving a majority of the offensive production to Josh Jacobs, Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers ahead of a Week 5 matchup against the Packers.
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Raiders' Austin Hooper: Not targeted Sunday
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Hooper was not targeted in Sunday's 23-18 loss to the Steelers.
Hooper's 55 offensive snaps were a season high through the first three weeks, but he failed to earn a single target, and fellow tight end Micheal Mayer was on the receiving end of a two-point conversion. If quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (concussion) continues to prioritize Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, Hooper could be a tough click in most formats.
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Raiders' Austin Hooper: Two receptions in loss
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Hooper caught two passes on as many targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 38-10 loss to the Bills.
Hooper's only receptions came on back-to-back plays on the Raiders' opening drive of the second half, but fellow tight end Michael Mayer was held to just one catch for two yards on 16 offensive snaps throughout this contest. The duo figures to continue splitting duties against the Steelers in Week 3, but quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo could look their way more often if Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers fail to clear the league's concussion protocol.
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Raiders' Austin Hooper: Gains 20 yards in win
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Hooper caught his lone target for 20 yards in Sunday's 17-16 win over the Broncos.
Hooper got the start and caught the only target intended for a tight end in his debut with Las Vegas. Fellow newcomer Jimmy Garoppolo did not utilize the tight end position like he did with George Kittle during his time in San Francisco, opting to target his outside options in the narrow victory. Early second-round pick Michael Mayer wasn't used on offense, confirming that Hooper sits atop the depth chart. The veteran tight end is worth consideration in deeper formats heading into a matchup against the Bills on Sunday.
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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: 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.
