Fansided

5 breakout fantasy football stars to pick up for Week 7

By William Schneiderhan

CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 13: Wide receiver Tee Higgins #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals warms up before playing against the Los Angeles Chargers at Paul Brown Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 13: Wide receiver Tee Higgins #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals warms up before playing against the Los Angeles Chargers at Paul Brown Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 11: Tight end Austin Hooper #81 of the Cleveland Browns warms up after halftime against the Indianapolis Colts at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Colts 32-23. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 11: Tight end Austin Hooper #81 of the Cleveland Browns warms up after halftime against the Indianapolis Colts at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Colts 32-23. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Scouting Report. TE. player. Pick Analysis. Cleveland Browns. Austin Hooper. 4. 53

ESPN rosters: 62.4 %

Yahoo rosters: 59 %

Here is a player who was probably drafted highly, but then drastically dropped. Austin Hooper was projected to be a heavily utilized weapon for Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns. His large, four-year $42 million contract with $23 million guaranteed that he signed this offseason is evidence of those aspirations.

Early on, Hooper was getting around four targets a game. Almost a non-factor in most results. Fantasy players who drafted the former Atlanta Falcon hoping he’d link up with Mayfield as he did with Matt Ryan probably furiously dropped him. However, it may be time to rebuild those bridges and add him to your roster.

In Week 5 against one of the best defenses in the NFL, the Colts, Hooper saw 10 targets. He caught five of those for 57 yards. The week prior, he received seven targets for five grabs and a score. This past week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he led the team with five catches on six targets for 52 yards.

The Browns play the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7. Tight ends have been able to get some action against this defense so far, but this unit has limited the number of touchdown receptions this position has gotten.

Why might this change this week? The Browns have always had the weapons for opposing defenses to worry about, but they just never had the system to make it all work. Now, it appears they do, which means all eyes will be locked on the star receivers and Kareem Hunt in the backfield. Therefore, Mayfield may target Hooper for easier completions, and maybe even some redzone shots.

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