Bellinger
TE · TEN @ CIN
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET
Projected points2.9pts
Hooper
TE · ATL @ TB
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET
Projected points2.6ptsUsage estimate
Toss-up
Bench
Austin Hooper or Daniel Bellinger: Who Should I Start in Week 8?
Toss-up. Daniel Bellinger gets the nod over Austin Hooper.
- Ahead by
- +0.3pts
- over Hooper
- Confidence
- Lower
- The two projections come from different sources; one is a Nuvela estimate
Hooper's number is our own estimate because his prop lines aren't posted yet, so this call is less sure than the gap looks.
Case for Hooper
The case for Hooper is an offense expected to score more (20.5 points to 17.0).
Flips if
Start Austin Hooper instead if you want an offense expected to score more (20.5 points to 17.0).
Risk
Weather in Austin Hooper's game: Outdoor · 73F, 10 mph wind, 100% rain. Check it again before kickoff.
Highlights
BellingerToss-upTE · TEN @ CINUsually 1.3+1.6pts this week
Helps him
- +1.1pts2 linesCatches 1.5 (usual 0.9) and touchdowns 0.09 (usual 0.00) both sit above his usual.
Hurts him
- 7games in a rowHe has been held under 6 points in 7 straight games.
HooperFirst outTE · ATL @ TBUsually 3.0−0.4pts this week
Helps him
- +0.9ptstrack recordHis projection also weighs his past seasons, which ran above this year’s pace.
Hurts him
- −1.2ptsroleHe’s expected to play fewer snaps this week than he has lately.
- 5%targetsHe draws only 5% of his team’s targets.
- 1.4per gameHe sees only 1.4 targets a game.
Points are what each line adds to or takes off his usual week.
Stat comparison
Every player you picked, stat by stat, most important first.
Stat
Scoring
ProjectionBellinger: 2.9 (best)Hooper: 2.6
TD pointsof the projectionBellinger: 0.5Hooper: Our estimate
Expected TDsthis weekBellinger: 0.09Hooper: Our estimate
Projected team pointsBellinger: 17.0Hooper: 20.5 (best)
Red zone targetsper gameBellinger: 0.1Hooper: 0.1
Role
Snap shareBellinger: 44% (best)Hooper: 26%
Usage worthptsBellinger: 2.5 (best)Hooper: 2.2
Target shareBellinger: 6% (best)Hooper: 5%
Targets / gameBellinger: 1.6 (best)Hooper: 1.4
Air yards shareBellinger: 3%Hooper: 3%
Vacated targets this weekBellinger: 7.3 (best)Hooper: 0.0
RZ target shareBellinger: 4%Hooper: 4%
Inside 10 target shareBellinger: 0%Hooper: 9% (best)
Catch rateBellinger: 55%Hooper: 80% (best)
Usage worth vs scoredBellinger: Earned by usage 2.5Scored 1.3Hooper: Earned by usage 2.2Scored 3.0
WOPRBellinger: 0.10Hooper: 0.10
Range
FloorBellinger: 1.8 (best)Hooper: 1.3
CeilingBellinger: 4.6 (best)Hooper: 4.4
Points from TDssteadier when lowerBellinger: 0%Hooper: 29%
Big weeks (15+ pts)Bellinger: 0%Hooper: 2 games
Dud weeks (under 5 pts)lower is betterBellinger: 100%Hooper: 2 games
SteadinessBellinger: Volatile±1.2 pts · 7 gamesHooper: 2 games
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his positionBellinger: A- (best)2026, 6 gmHooper: B2026, 7 gm
Game scriptBellinger: Expected to trailHooper: Expected to trail (best)
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterBellinger: 1.5 (best)Hooper: 1.7
Defense funnelBellinger: NeutralHooper: Neutral
Opp pass yds allowedBellinger: 26th (soft) (best)Hooper: 14th (average)
Starting QBBellinger: Ward (Active)Hooper: Penix (Active)
WeatherBellinger: No concernHooper: Outdoor73F, 10 mph wind, 100% rain
Roof / surfaceBellinger: OpenturfHooper: Opengrass
Rest / scheduleBellinger: NormalHooper: Normal
Opp paceBellinger: 20th (average)Hooper: 14th (average) (best)
Opp deep targets allowed / gameBellinger: 0.7 (best)23rd (soft)Hooper: 0.618th (average)
Opp catch rate allowedBellinger: 76% (best)24th (soft)Hooper: 70%12th (average)
Form
Last 3 avgBellinger: 1.0Hooper: 1.9 (best)
Last 5 avgBellinger: 1.5Hooper: 3.3 (best)
vs seasonBellinger: −0.4 (Cooling) (best)Hooper: −1.1 (Cooling)
Yards per route runBellinger: 0.67Hooper: 1.46 (best)
Receiving aDOTBellinger: 3.7Hooper: 3.8
Target share trendBellinger: SteadyHooper: Rising
Crowd
Nuvela position ranklower is betterBellinger: TE47 (best)Hooper: TE49
Yards linereceivingBellinger: 9.0Hooper: Our estimate
Deciding on someone else?
Choose 2 to 5 players for any week.