TE Austin Hooper, LV (1 Viewer)

[Faust]

Browns coach Kevin Stefanksi said Austin Hooper (abdomen) will "definitely" be ready for Week 10 against the Texans.

Hooper has missed the last two games following an emergency appendectomy, forcing rookie Harrison Bryant (7/81/2) and David Njoku (3/39/1) into 12 personnel in that stint. With Njoku potentially on his way out the door by Tuesday's 4p ET trade deadline, Hooper is expected to return ahead of Bryant in jumbo packages. Hooper will rank as a low-end TE1 in Week 10 against Houston.

SOURCE: Nate Ulrich on Twitter

Nov 2, 2020, 2:12 PM ET

 

[The Frankman]

Austin Hooper caught 1-of-2 targets for 11 yards. 

Disaster. With winds surging into the Browns' lakefront stadium, they predictably took the air out of the ball. Making his first appearance in four weeks because of an emergency appendectomy, the down day snapped a streak of three straight five-catch efforts for the Browns' highly-paid tight end. With Odell Beckham (ACL) on injured reserve, today should go down as an aberration for Hooper in the second half of the season. He will offer weekly TE1 appeal in this targets-starved offense. He gets the Eagles for Week 11. 

- Rotoworld

 

[Faust]

Austin Hooper (neck) was sidelined for Friday's practice.

He'll at least be afforded the extra 24 hours to get healthy for Monday night. His participation on Saturday will be telling. If Hooper can't go, rookie Harrison Bryant, who totaled 7/81/2 in two spot-starts for the former earlier this year, would qualify as a one-game DFS flier against Baltimore.

SOURCE: Nate Ulrich on Twitter

Dec 11, 2020, 4:23 PM ET

 

[Faust]

Week 14 Dynasty Risers and Fallers: Gabriel Davis' rookie breakout

Excerpt:

FALLER: TE AUSTIN HOOPER, CLEVELAND BROWNS

Since returning from his appendectomy, Hooper has been a non-factor for the Browns' offense. He has topped out at three catches for 33 yards despite Cleveland hanging 41 points on the Titans and 27 on the Jaguars. 

Of Baker Mayfield‘s 592 yards over his previous two games, Hooper has accounted for 6.3% of that production. He can be dumped for speculative assets like Kmet or Albert Okwuegbunam for teams that don’t need his middling PPR production in the playoffs this year.

 

[whole-show]

Austin Hooper not expected to play Monday night per Ian Rapoport 

 

[Faust]

Austin Hooper (neck) returned to practice Wednesday.

Coach Kevin Stefanski said Hooper is "trending in right direction." Hooper missed Week 14 with a neck injury, but this put him on track to return Sunday. Harrison Bryant would make another start if Hooper doesn't get cleared.

Dec 16, 2020, 2:04 PM ET

 

[Faust]

Austin Hooper (neck) is questionable for Week 15 against the Giants.

For what it's worth, coach Kevin Stefanski did say he expects Hooper to play. Even so, Hooper has totaled 11 targets from Baker Mayfield across Cleveland's last four games. He isn't a trustworthy option for the second round of the fantasy playoffs.

SOURCE: Jake Trotter on Twitter

Dec 18, 2020, 2:03 PM ET

 

[The Frankman]

@Run It Up you going to update the thread title?
 

Austin Hooper caught 5-of-6 targets for 41 yards and a touchdown in the Browns' Week 15 win over the Giants.

Hooper has been a fantasy bust this season. Tonight's 41-yard game was his highest since Week 6 and his touchdown was only his third of the year. Perhaps he closes out strong after a few weeks of playing through injury, but there's typically not enough volume for Hooper to break out of the TE2 streamer mix. The Jets are the easiest matchup for tight ends for those making moves ahead of fantasy finals.

- Rotoworld

 

[The Frankman]

I take that as a no...
 

Austin Hooper caught 4-of-5 targets for 37 yards and a touchdown. 

Medical issues cost Hooper four games, but the $42 million free agent was a first-year bust in the Browns' run-heavy offense, snagging just 46 balls for 435 yards (9.4 YPC). Especially with Odell Beckham missing most of the season, the Browns needed more. Hooper had been getting more involved before an October appendectomy halted his momentum. Hooper and the Browns rematch with the Steelers in the Wild Card Round. 

- Rotoworld

 

[Faust]

Austin Hooper caught 7-of-11 targets for 46 yards and a touchdown in Cleveland's Wild Card win against the Steelers.

Hooper's seven-yard touchdown at the end of the second quarter allowed the Browns to tie a franchise record with 35 points in the first half of a postseason game. His 11 targets were also a team-high mark, lending him at least five in Cleveland's last four games and three touchdowns in three of his last four. Hooper has also quietly averaged 9.4 targets per game since Week 15. He'll be a terrific contrarian option for DFS tournaments in the Divisional Round against Kansas City.

Jan 11, 2021, 1:10 AM ET

 

[Faust]

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said TE Austin Hooper will have a larger role in the pass game this season.

"We're going to grow his role. He really understands now in Year 2 how we plan to use him," said Stefanski, who expects Hooper to block less this year. Hooper ran routes with Baker Mayfield this offseason to "try to develop the chemistry that was lacking at times." Hooper finished second on the Browns with a 46/435/4 line on 70 targets last season, but he'll be facing more competition for targets with Odell Beckham returning. David Njoku and second-year TE Harrison Bryant also figure to cut into Hooper's snaps.

SOURCE: Cleveland Plain Dealer

Aug 13, 2021, 7:49 PM ET

 

[Casting Couch]

bum

 

[VikingFrog]

Ahhhh, the old TE doldrums for me. Just like last year. Hunter Henry week 1… Nope. Juwan Johnson week 2… Nope. Hooper week 3… WHY NOT?!?

 

[Mister CIA]

There are football players who can moderately produce while totally failing the eyeball test.

Austin Hooper is one of those guys.

 

[IHEARTFF]

he makes sense with no Landry

 

[The Frankman]

Austin Hooper caught 2-of-3 targets for 19 yards and a touchdown in Cleveland's Week 3 win over the Bears.

Hooper accounted for Cleveland's only receptions among its tight ends as Harrison Bryant and David Njoku combined for two catch-less targets. With all three involved yet again, Hooper was lucky to get there with a 13-yard touchdown catch. He'll remain a boom/bust TE2 in Week 4 against the Vikings as one of three viable options at that position on his own team.

please... thread title change @Run It Up

 

[The Frankman]

THREAD TITLE CHANGE PLEASE
 

Austin Hooper caught just 1-of-5 targets for 11 yards in the Browns' Week 4 win over the Vikings.

Hooper has 11 catches for 97 yards and one touchdown through four contests. Hooper is nothing more than a low-floor TE2 ahead of a Week 5 date with the Chargers.

I bet he wishes he was back in Atlanta...

 

[Faust]

Browns placed TE Austin Hooper on the reserve/COVID list.

Jarvis Landry, G Wyatt Teller, OT Jedrick Wills, G Drew Forbes, DE Takkarist McKinley, WR JoJo Natson, and Ross Travis are among the other players who Cleveland placed on the COVID list Tuesday afternoon. It's unclear if the Browns will even be able to field a team on Saturday against the Raiders. As it stands, they'll be without all three of their tight ends, both starting tackles and starting guards, and Landry if they do.

SOURCE: Scott Petrak on Twitter

Dec 14, 2021, 1:21 PM ET

 

[The Frankman]

Austin Hooper caught 2-of-5 targets for 28 yards in the Browns' Week 17 loss to the Steelers.

Hooper dropped a couple passes early in this one, but his five targets were one more than David Njoku and four more than Harrison Bryant. But it was Njoku and Bryant who caught a pair of short touchdowns. Hooper has just three scores on the year and has topped 42 yards in a game just once all season.

- NBC SportsEDGE

 

[Faust]

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports the Browns plan to keep Austin Hooper despite assigning the franchise tag to David Njoku.

Hooper is due a non-guaranteed $9.5 million salary in the third year of his four-year deal, a contract that has been a colossal bust for the Browns. However, releasing him would save just $2 million in cap space and leave $11.25 million in dead money unless he were to be designated a post-June 1 cut. If the Browns keep Hooper and Njoku at their current rates, they'd combine to count $24.16 million against the 2022 cap. Hooper has 84 catches for 780 yards and seven touchdowns in 29 games for the Browns.

SOURCE: Jeremy Fowler on Twitter

Mar 7, 2022, 10:54 PM ET

 

[rockaction]

Released by Cleveland. 

 

[Sam Quentin]

Titans should have an interest I would think

 

[dipandglide]

I like the landing spot. It gets him out of that 3-TE log jam in Cleveland. Hoop should provide value in TE premium leagues.

 

[barackdhouse]

Low key nice landing spot.

 

[travdogg]

Titans should have an interest I would think

Great call

 

[-OZ-]

Great landing spot. He’s the defacto #2 in town for now. For the team without a lot of money to work, this was about the best option. (Although I’d have preferred Howard)

 

[barackdhouse]

Great landing spot. He’s the defacto #2 in town for now. For the team without a lot of money to work, this was about the best option. (Although I’d have preferred Howard)

Who is number 1? Firkser? Swaim? I think Hooper is the 1.

 

[Monty Burns]

Who is number 1? Firkser? Swaim? I think Hooper is the 1.

I think he meant #2 in the receiving pecking order for TENN behind AJ Brown

 

[-OZ-]

Who is number 1? Firkser? Swaim? I think Hooper is the 1.

I think he meant #2 in the receiving pecking order for TENN behind AJ Brown

This

 

[Faust]

Titans signed Austin Hooper, formerly of the Browns, to a one-year, $6 million contract. 

In obviously the biggest move of the day, the Titans pick up the scraps after the Browns cut Hooper on Wednesday. Hooper disappointed in Cleveland, but he is a better pass-catching option at tight end than the Titans had at any point last year. Even so, it is tough to get excited about him as anything more than a touchdown-or-bust TE2. 

RELATED: 

Cleveland Browns

SOURCE: Tom Pelissero on Twitter

Mar 18, 2022, 3:59 PM ET

 

[barackdhouse]

This

And then Woods arrived. I don't know who he will be anymore but it's probably a good signing.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Later-Round Lotto Tickets - Fantasy Football Draft Picks that Could Pay Off Big

Austin Hooper, Tennessee Titans

...Outside of last season where there was no established option at tight end, the Titans have been a team that targets the tight end position at a higher rate than most. During Mike Vrabel's first three years as a head coach (2018-2020), the Titans' tight ends had a 25.33 percent target share.

Austin Hooper's addition to this offensive scheme should bring a return to that trend as he offers a lot more to the receiving game than Anthony Firkser.

Jeff Bell@4WhomJBellTolls

Since 2014, the Tennessee Titans have ranked outside the top 8 in tight end target share just one time. 2021, after the loss of Jonnu Smith. They brought in Austin Hooper at the outset of free agency. Hooper is free in drafts and has a great opportunity to return TE1 value.

• LINK to chart
  

Jordan Hamrick@JordyHamrick

If he can stay on his feet after making the catch, he can definitely be a TE1 value. It was infuriating watching him the last two years. Catches in traffic and immediately is on the ground lol.

... the Titans are a bit low on receiving weapons for 2022. 

...Hooper and Tannehill are building a strong rapport and we might have one of the best tight end values in 2022.

Hooper is currently being drafted as the TE24 at pick 182.5 in the 15th round. For a tight end that has a solid shot at playing a large role in his offense while returning TE1 value, you really can't beat that price tag.

 

[massraider]

This guy feels like high floor, high ceiling to me.

 

[The Frankman]

Austin Hooper caught 1-of-2 targets for six yards in the Titans' Week 1 loss to the Giants.​

Hooper is simply a shell of himself at this point. The 2019 campaign in which he went for 75-787-6 with the Falcons feels like decades ago, but Hooper's decline has come at a rapid pace. At 28-years old, we'd like to believe that Hooper has some kind of pass-catching upside left in him, but that wasn't on display in this one. Set to face the Bills in Week 2, there's no reason to start Hooper next Monday.
- NBCSportsEDGE

 

[Bri]

He spent a lot of time messing with the defender in a real amateur fashion.

You're gonna get bumped. You absorb that, get the defender on your hip, and establish position like you're a basketball big man.

You don't stop your route to push back n forth.

On the plays you've got space, you use your wheels to show you're a big n fast dude, ya don't run at the defender to push n bump again.

It was garbage and blocking TE Swaim was getting receiving work because of it.

Chig not being able to block inline is the only reason Hooper didn't lose his job yesterday.

He's gonna get beaten up in the film review and let's hope he recognizes and adjusts and plays like a pro next game

 

[Van Dyman]

He spent a lot of time messing with the defender in a real amateur fashion.

You're gonna get bumped. You absorb that, get the defender on your hip, and establish position like you're a basketball big man.

You don't stop your route to push back n forth.

On the plays you've got space, you use your wheels to show you're a big n fast dude, ya don't run at the defender to push n bump again.

It was garbage and blocking TE Swaim was getting receiving work because of it.

Chig not being able to block inline is the only reason Hooper didn't lose his job yesterday.

He's gonna get beaten up in the film review and let's hope he recognizes and adjusts and plays like a pro next game

Yeah his week 1 performance was very disappointing. It's a real problem as Swaim ain't scaring anybody and Chig still has a lot to learn.

 

[gbill2004]

Anything left to see here?

 

[DocHolliday]

Anything left to see here?

Was there anything to see?

 

[The Frankman]

how has this thread not been renamed yet? @Run It Up ?

Austin Hooper caught all three of his targets for 56 yards in the Titans' Week 7 win over the Colts.

Hooper made a highlight reel catch late in the game, bobbling the ball all the way to the ground as he was being tackled. The 19-yard snag helped get the Titans into field goal range to ice the game. It was a solid outing from the veteran tight end, but he was still splitting reps with three other tight ends. Hooper is nothing more than a low-end TE2 for his Week 7 matchup with Houston.
- NBCSportsEDGE

 

[Faust]

Austin Hooper caught all four targets for 36 yards and two touchdowns in the Titans' Week 11 win over the Packers.​

Hooper was the recipient of both second half Titans touchdowns, the first from the arm of running back Derrick Henry on a trick play from the goal line and the second on an absolute dime from Ryan Tannehill, splitting two defenders from 16 yards out. The low volume is to be expected for Hooper as he shares tight end duties with both Chigoziem Okonkwo and Geoff Swaim, but fantasy managers will be happy with the two-touchdown performance. Hooper can mostly be left alone in all but the deepest leagues moving forward.
Nov 17, 2022, 11:45 PM ET

 

[Faust]

Raiders signed TE Austin Hooper, formerly of the Titans, to a one-year, $2.8 million contract.​

Per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Hooper can boost his deal to as much as $3.5 million through incentives. The Raiders previously added O.J. Howard following their move to trade Darren Waller to New York. If both players make the roster, Hooper will likely take on more work as a blocker with Howard primarily running routes. Hooper is coming off a quiet season as a pass-catcher, totaling just 37 catches for 406 yards and a single touchdown. Though there will be more passing volume to go around in Vegas, his days as a fantasy-relevant tight end appear to be behind him.
RELATED:

• Tennessee Titans

SOURCE: Mike Garafolo on Twitter
Mar 22, 2023 at 3:59 PM ET