Washington
TE · PIT vs CLE
Proj pts
6.7pts
market
Hooper
TE · ATL vs NO
Proj pts
5.6pts
market
Austin Hooper or Darnell Washington: who should I start in Week 4?
Start Darnell Washington. Bench Austin Hooper. Darnell Washington leads at 6.7. Austin Hooper is the first one out, 1.1 short.
Highlights
Cons
- Low TE usage11% target share
- Thin volume3.3 targets/g
Cons
- Low TE usage7% target share
- Thin volume2.0 targets/g
Some recent form, opportunity and matchup figures still lean on the 2025 season (not enough games played this season yet).
Week 4 · Updated Tue 29 Sep, 6:00 AM ET
The widest gap between them, in proportion, is touchdown dependence: Washington 8%, Hooper 20%.
Why Darnell Washington
Start Darnell Washington — projects 6.7, a tough matchup vs CLE.
Darnell Washington projects 6.7 points on a 3.0–9.1 range. The matchup grades as tough against CLE. Usage: targets / game at 3.3. Net: start Darnell Washington this week.
Working against Washington: Low TE usage (11% target share), Thin volume (3.3 targets/g).
Where Washington leads the head-to-head: Projection (6.7 vs 5.6); Ceiling (9.1 vs 7.5); Target share (11% vs 7%); Consistency (51% vs 41%); Boom rate (25% vs 15%); Targets / game (3.3 vs 2.0); Snap share (60% vs 52%); Red zone targets (9 vs 5).
Why Austin Hooper
Sit Austin Hooper — projects 5.6, an even matchup vs NO.
Austin Hooper projects 5.6 points on a 3.2–7.5 range. The matchup grades as neutral against NO. Usage: targets / game at 2.0. Net: bench Austin Hooper this week.
Working against Hooper: Low TE usage (7% target share), Thin volume (2.0 targets/g).
Where Hooper leads the head-to-head: Floor (3.2 vs 3.0); Matchup grade (recency weighted) (C vs D+); Implied team total (22.8 vs 20.5); Last 3 avg (6.5 vs 5.1); Last 5 avg (6.5 vs 5.1); vs season (+1.2 vs +0.7); Bust rate (23% vs 25%); Touchdown dependence (20% vs 8%); Rest / schedule (11 days rest vs Short week (4d)).
Recent form
Darnell Washington's last 3 games: PPR points 1.7, 3.8, 9.7 (low to high; the card does not say which came first).
Austin Hooper's last 2 games: PPR points 4, 9.1 (low to high; the card does not say which came first).
Washington has already beaten Hooper's 5.6 projection in 1 of his 3; Hooper has beaten Washington's 6.7 in 1 of his 2.
Matchup
Darnell Washington (PIT) faces CLE, kickoff Thu, Oct 1, 8:15 PM ET. The matchup is rated tough. Betting line: implied team total 20.5, spread -2.5.
Austin Hooper (ATL) faces NO, kickoff Mon, Oct 5, 8:15 PM ET. The matchup is rated neutral. Betting line: implied team total 22.8, spread +3.0.
What flips it
Washington's edge is 1.1 points (6.7 to 5.6). Hooper's ceiling (7.5) clears Washington's projection, so a big game from Hooper flips it. Washington's floor (3) sits under Hooper's projection, so a quiet game from Washington flips it too. Confidence in the call: moderate.
More start/sit comparisons from this week's PPR projections. Open a pair for the call and the reasoning.
This week's toughest calls
- Colston Loveland or Hunter Henry11.3 · 11.2
- Juwan Johnson or Tucker Kraft12.3 · 12.2
- AJ Barner or Hunter Henry11.2 · 11.2
- Isaiah Likely or Tucker Kraft12.2 · 12.2
- Brenton Strange or Colston Loveland11.4 · 11.3
- AJ Barner or Colston Loveland11.2 · 11.3
- More TE start/sit calls (tight ends this week)