#252 overall · ATL · 48.1 projected half-PPR pts · -63.9 Draft Value
Austin Hooper — 2026 Fantasy Outlook
The case for drafting him
Austin Hooper is back in Atlanta, and his 2024 season is the clearest argument in his favor. He hauled in 45 receptions on 59 targets for 476 yards and 3 touchdowns — a genuine uptick from the 25-catch, zero-touchdown 2023 campaign. His three-year average of 30.3 receptions, 324.3 yards, and 1.7 receiving touchdowns per season shows a floor that is real, if modest. The 2024 touchdown production is the number to hold onto: it represents the version of Hooper that can contribute meaningful half-PPR points at a position where consistent scoring is hard to find late in drafts.
What the model projects
The projection is 48.1 half-PPR fantasy points for 2026. That places Hooper at #252 overall and TE38, sitting in Tier 9. His draft value is -63.9, meaning the projection lands below replacement level at the tight end position. Atlanta's bye is Week 11. These numbers reflect a player operating at the margins of fantasy relevance — the projection is not zero, but it is not a number that supports a roster spot on most 12-team leagues.
| Att | Comp | Pass yds | Pass TD | INT | Car | Rush yds | Rush TD | Tgt | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD | Fum | FG | XP | Half-PPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 25 | 234 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 35.9 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 45 | 476 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 86.1 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 21 | 263 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 48.8 |
| 3-yr avg | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 38.7 | 30.3 | 324.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | — | — | 57.8 |
The range of outcomes
Hooper's three-year history tells the story of the variance here. In 2023 he posted 234 yards and zero touchdowns on 31 targets. In 2024 he posted 476 yards and 3 touchdowns on 59 targets. In 2025 he posted 263 yards and 2 touchdowns on 26 targets. The target volume swings — 31, 59, 26 — are the engine of that variance. A season closer to the 2024 target share produces a meaningfully different fantasy line than a season closer to 2025. Touchdowns are the other lever: he scored three in 2024 and zero in 2023, and that gap alone is the difference between a useful streamer and a roster cut.
How to draft him
Hooper is not being drafted consistently enough across platforms to carry a market ADP. That means he is available as a free agent or a final-round flier in most drafts — there is no pick cost to plan around. At TE38 with a -63.9 draft value, he is a depth option or a handcuff for managers who want a late-season streaming candidate, particularly around Atlanta's Week 11 bye. Roster him only if your tight end depth requires it.
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Questions drafters ask
In 2024 he caught 45 of 59 targets for 476 yards and 3 touchdowns. His three-year target average is 38.7 per season, so the 59-target 2024 was well above his norm. The 2025 season came back down to 26 targets, 21 receptions, 263 yards, and 2 touchdowns — closer to his historical baseline.
He is #252 overall and TE38, in Tier 9, with a draft value of -63.9. A negative draft value means the projection of 48.1 half-PPR points sits below replacement level at tight end. In a standard 12-team league he is a depth or streaming option, not a starter.
Hooper does not have a market ADP — he is not being drafted consistently enough across platforms to produce one. He is effectively a free agent in most drafts, requiring no pick investment to acquire.
His 2024 line — 45 receptions, 476 yards, 3 touchdowns on 59 targets — is the high-end reference point from his recent history. His three-year receiving touchdown average is 1.7 per season, so a 3-touchdown outcome is possible but above the norm. Target volume is the key variable: his three-year target average is 38.7, and seasons near 59 targets look very different from seasons near 26.