Austin Hooper (TE, CLE) - Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues

ROSTERED: 48% of Leagues

ANALYSIS: The Cleveland Browns welcomed Austin Hooper back from injury this past Sunday, and the tight end thanked his "new" organization with his best game for them to date. Hooper put on a 15.1 PPR-point performance while scoring his third touchdown of the season after catching 5-of-6 targets for 41 yards, not bad for a resounding TE8 comeback.

It had been four games (and seven weeks) in a row in which Hooper had not been able to score more points than a mid-end TE2, spanning from W7 to W13. A combination of injuries and bad performances brought Hooper's average fantasy score from 11.8 (W3-6) down to 5.5 (W7-15). Good for his fantasy GMs, though, Hooper returned this past weekend and he played his best football since Week 4 when he closed the week as the TE6 thanks to his 14.4 PPR points.

While Hooper is not a top-tier tight end, far from it, he should still be a reasonably good streaming option for those of you manning the TE position that way. Baker Mayfield has leveled up during the past few weeks, and on top of that Cleveland is facing the absolute-worst team at stopping tight ends this season: the New York Jets.

The Jets are giving up 17.3 PPR points per game to opposing tight ends, and lead the league in yards- and touchdowns-against by players at the TE position. Every TE1 that has played against the Jets since W7 has finished with 10+ PPR points, including booming performances like Darren Waller's 45 PPR-point one in W13 and Tyler Higbee's 16.7 this past weekend.

More Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

Pat Freiermuth (TE, PIT) – Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 18

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 66% of Yahoo Leagues ANALYSIS: Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth is the TE10 for the year, averaging 7.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. While the Steelers' passing attack has been inconsistent this season, the veteran tight end has played well lately. He has five receiving […]

Mike Fanelli 2 weeks ago

Jalen McMillan (WR, TB) – Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 18

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 54% of Yahoo Leagues ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan has been one of the top pass catchers in fantasy football lately. The rookie wide receiver is the WR10 over the past four weeks, averaging 4.8 receptions on 6.3 targets for 60.5 receiving yards and […]

Mike Fanelli 2 weeks ago

Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB, NO) – Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 18

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14-Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 1% of Yahoo Leagues ANALYSIS: New Orleans Saints Clyde Edwards-Helaire recently joined the team after spending his entire career with the Kansas City Chiefs. Furthermore, he made his team and season debut in the week 17 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. The veteran running back had […]

Mike Fanelli 2 weeks ago

Julius Chestnut (RB, TEN) – Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 18

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14-Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 1% of Yahoo Leagues ANALYSIS: Tennessee Titans running back Julius Chestnut has had little fantasy football impact this season. The veteran running back is the RB101 for the year, averaging 0.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, he got some work on offense last week in […]

Mike Fanelli 2 weeks ago

Trey Benson (RB, ARI) – Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 18

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12-Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 19% of Yahoo Leagues ANALYSIS: Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson has missed the past two games because of an ankle injury. Hopefully, the rookie running back can play in Sunday’s season finale against the San Francisco 49ers. The Cardinals could be without James Conner in Week […]

Mike Fanelli 2 weeks ago

Download Our Free Waiver Wire App

Like what you see? You can download our free fantasy football mobile app for iPhone and Android which includes more waiver wire recommendations at every position, 24x7 player news, notifications, injury alerts & daily articles.