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Updated August 16, 2026 from live stats

Austin Hooper vs Travis KelceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

DraftCall Analytics

Start Travis Kelce over Austin Hooper in 2026.

Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 PPG in 2025 to Austin Hooper's 4.0, a 5.1 point per game edge. Both play tight ends, so that per-game gap is the cleanest tiebreaker for a 2026 start or sit.

The Bottom Line

Travis Kelce is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 9.1 PPG and 852 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Austin Hooper (4.0 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Travis Kelce as the starter and Austin Hooper as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TENew England Patriots#99

Austin Hooper

PPG

4.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

292

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

TEKansas City Chiefs#10PPG LEADER

Travis Kelce

PPG

9.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

851

Rec TDs

Targets

108

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Austin Hooper

Travis Kelce

Head to Head

4.0 PPG9.1 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Hooper: Unranked TE. Travis Kelce: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Austin Hooper is producing at 18% of elite pace and Travis Kelce at 41%. That ranking gap means Travis Kelce carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Austin Hooper vs Travis Kelce: The Full Breakdown

Austin Hooper and Travis Kelce 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 Travis Kelce posted 9.1 PPG in 17 appearances for the Kansas City Chiefs.

A 5.1-PPG gap gives Travis Kelce 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.

Travis Kelce is the volume tight end in this matchup with 76 receptions for 851 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 Travis Kelce, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Austin Hooper is off Week 14 and Travis Kelce Week 5. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Travis Kelce 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. Travis Kelce (age 36) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Travis Kelce outscored Austin Hooper by a projected 87 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Travis Kelce played 17 games in 2025 compared to Austin Hooper's 15. That durability gap means Travis Kelce contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Travis Kelce scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Travis Kelce saw 108 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 Travis Kelce: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Austin Hooper	Travis Kelce
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	9.1
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	60	155
Receptions	32	76
Rec/Game	2.1	4.5
Receiving Yards	292	851
Rec Yds/Game	19.5	50.1
Receiving TDs	1	5
Targets	42	108
Target Share/Game	2.8	6.4
Age	-	36
Experience	-	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 5

Summary

Travis Kelce outscored Austin Hooper by 5.1 PPG in 2025 (9.1 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 Travis Kelce in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Travis Kelce has the edge at 9.1 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 Travis Kelce average in 2025?▾

Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.1 points per game.

When are Austin Hooper and Travis Kelce's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Austin Hooper (NE) has a bye in Week 14, and Travis Kelce (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Austin Hooper or Travis Kelce a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Travis Kelce outscored Austin Hooper by 5.1 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.