Austin Hooper (TE, CLE) - 2021 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~150 Overall

CURRENT ADP: ~180

ANALYSIS:  Browns tight end Austin Hooper was painted poorly by his 2020 season. He started off extremely slow but began to pick up his production until a mid-season appendectomy sidelined him for several weeks. He was nearly useless afterward and limited with more of a blocking role.

The Browns signed Hooper to the largest TE contract in free agency up to that point and will use him despite keeping David Njoku for one last (?) ride. Harrison Bryant is not very good and will be relegated to more of a blocking role while Hooper is on the field. Also consider the team transition last offseason, lack of reps with Baker Mayfield, and a COVID-ravaged team trying to build early-season rapport. The team pass volume in Cleveland is not ideal, but Hooper did manage an 18.5% target share in a down year and was second on the team in targets despite missing three games.

According to head coach Kevin Stefanski., Hooper will have a more prominent role in the offense this year. They plan to grow  role in 2021. Hooper was a disappointment in 2020, his first season with the Browns, finishing with 46 catches for 435 yards and four touchdowns. While his numbers weren't great, Hooper did see a decent target share, drawing 70 targets despite missing three games.

If Cleveland does end up utilizing Hooper more frequently, he could wind up a value in fantasy drafts, considering he's being drafted as a low-end TE2 in fantasy drafts. With a full offseason to work with quarterback Baker Mayfield and another year of continuity in the Stefanski offense under his belt, Hooper has some sleeper upside in 2021.

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