Austin Hooper poised for one last big fantasy game this season

Austin Hooper will be playing in his third game back from injury. Look for the Atlanta Falcons tight end to have a big game vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Before getting injured in Week 10’s road victory vs. the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons tight end Austin Hooper was playing at a Pro Bowl-level for the Dirty Birds. While the team wasn’t winning, Hooper had five games of more than 10 fantasy points out of the tight end position and only one below seven up to that point. However, he has been slow to come back since getting hurt.

After two unremarkable weeks back from injury in Week 14 and Week 15, The Fantasy Footballers think Hooper is in for one last great fantasy game this season in Week 16. Atlanta will be hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that is almost certain to be cleaning house with the coaching staff at regular season’s end.

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As for the Falcons, the team is fighting so hard to keep Dan Quinn around as their head coach for 2020. After going 1-7 before their annual bye, the Falcons have gone 4-2 in the last six weeks. In short, Atlanta is playing at home and has more of a reason to play hard than does visiting Jacksonville.

No, it’s not just a hungry Falcons team getting a Jaguars team that just wants the season to end that makes this such a good matchup for Hooper. Had his potential game-winning touchdown grab not been overturned, Hooper would have had his sixth 10-plus fantasy point game of the season. So he might have been back to good last week but caught an unlucky break.

Another reason we can expect a big game out of Hooper is that his free agency is pending at the end of the year. Atlanta may want to bring him back, but the Falcons are in a tough spot up against the cap and may not be able to work out a new deal for the fourth-year pro out of Stanford. In short, he’ll want to finish the year strong with plenty of tape to work with before free agency.

Overall, if Atlanta is going to get to 6-9 after beating Jacksonville at home on Sunday afternoon, it’ll largely be because of Matt Ryan and the Falcons’ passing game. With wide receiver Calvin Ridley out for the year, look for him to throw the ball more often in Hooper’s direction to make up for it.