The Facts: Former Falcons OC Mike Mularkey, a three-time NFL head coach, is back with the team coaching the TE position. He inherited Hooper, who went to the Pro Bowl as an alternate after catching 71 passes for 660 yards and four touchdown, all career-highs, in his third season. “He is a threat in this offense,” Mularkey said.
Diehards Line:
Hooper caught 71 of 88 targets last season for an 80.7 percent catch-ratio. The great Tony Gonzalez’s best catch-ratio season was 75 percent (93-of-124) in 2012. The Falcons are pleased with Hooper’s career arc thus far. “Hooper, the improvement just keeps getting better,” HC Dan Quinn said. “Now, he’s ready to go to another level, and I’m looking forward to seeing him make that growth.” Now, the challenge for Hooper is to keep developing as he strives to become one of the elite tight ends in the NFL. From a fantasy perspective, expecting that continued growth seems reasonable.