Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Austin Hooper vs Dalton SchultzWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Dalton Schultz is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.0 PPG to Austin Hooper's 4.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Dalton Schultz is the better fantasy play this season.

Dalton Schultz has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.0-PPG advantage is real (8.0 to 4.0), and Dalton Schultz's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Austin Hooper is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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TENew England Patriots#99

Austin Hooper

PPG

4.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

292

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

TEHouston Texans#18PPG LEADER

Dalton Schultz

PPG

8.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

777

Rec TDs

Targets

106

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Austin Hooper

Dalton Schultz

Head to Head

4.0 PPG8.0 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Hooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Dalton Schultz: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #18 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Austin Hooper is producing at 18% of elite pace and Dalton Schultz at 36%. That ranking gap means Dalton Schultz carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Austin Hooper vs Dalton Schultz: The Full Breakdown

Austin Hooper and Dalton Schultz are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 PPG across 15 games with the New England Patriots, while Dalton Schultz posted 8.0 PPG in 17 appearances for the Houston Texans.

A 4.0-PPG gap gives Dalton Schultz the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Dalton Schultz is the volume tight end in this matchup with 82 receptions for 777 yards, while Austin Hooper profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 32 catches). In weeks where Austin Hooper finds the end zone he out-scores Dalton Schultz, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Austin Hooper sits Week 14 while Dalton Schultz is off Week 8. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Dalton Schultz at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Austin Hooper is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Austin Hooper (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Dalton Schultz (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Dalton Schultz outscored Austin Hooper by a projected 68 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Dalton Schultz played 17 games in 2025 compared to Austin Hooper's 15. That durability gap means Dalton Schultz contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Dalton Schultz scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Dalton Schultz saw 106 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Austin Hooper vs Dalton Schultz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Austin Hooper	Dalton Schultz
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	8.0
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	60	136
Receptions	32	82
Rec/Game	2.1	4.8
Receiving Yards	292	777
Rec Yds/Game	19.5	45.7
Receiving TDs	1	3
Targets	42	106
Target Share/Game	2.8	6.2
Age	-	29
Experience	-	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 8

Summary

Dalton Schultz outscored Austin Hooper by 4.0 PPG in 2025 (8.0 to 4.0). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Austin Hooper or Dalton Schultz in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Dalton Schultz has the edge at 8.0 PPG compared to Austin Hooper's 4.0 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Austin Hooper and Dalton Schultz average in 2025?▾

Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Dalton Schultz averaged 8.0 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 4.0 points per game.

When are Austin Hooper and Dalton Schultz's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Austin Hooper (NE) has a bye in Week 14, and Dalton Schultz (HOU) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Austin Hooper or Dalton Schultz a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Dalton Schultz outscored Austin Hooper by 4.0 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.