Falcons TE Austin Hooper (knee) is out for Sunday's game against the Panthers. He's likely looking at a multi-game absence with his sprained MCL. Atlanta will use some combination of Luke Stocker and Jaeden Graham to replace Hooper, but neither guy is a fantasy option. Hooper's absence just means more targets for WRs Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage.

Falcons TE Austin Hooper is expected to miss "about a month" with his sprained MCL, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. That timeline would have him back around Week 15. It's tough break for fantasy's current #1 TE across scoring systems. We'd try to hang on to Hooper, who should be back to TE1 status for the final few weeks of the season.

Update: HC Dan Quinn denied the report, saying it "didn't come from our building," according to Kelsey Conway of the team website. Don't drop Hooper on the Rapoport report. We'll see whether the team does tell us any more.

A Monday MRI confirmed that Falcons TE Austin Hooper suffered an MCL sprain, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Hooper is seeking a 2nd opinion to determine how long the injury will keep him out. You should make sure to grab insurance for your fantasy football lineup this week.

Falcons TE Austin Hooper injured his left knee in the 4th quarter of Sunday's game against the Saints and didn't return. Former head team Dr. David Chao believes Hooper has a sprained MCL. We should get an official diagnosis tomorrow.

The Patriots have traded a 2nd-round pick to the Falcons in exchange for WR Mohamed Sanu. New England tried to acquire Sanu during this spring's draft, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, so it's clearly a player the team covets. Sanu was a steady producer in Atlanta, averaging 4.2 catches and 47 yards per game over the past 3+ seasons. He played primarily in the slot for the Falcons, but we'll see how he fits into the Patriots' WR corps alongside Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon (once he's back from his knee injury), Phillip Dorsett and Jakobi Meyers. When everyone's healthy, it figures to be Edelman, Gordon and Sanu in 3-WR sets. Sanu has a brand new offense to learn, though. And note that he's going from the league's 2nd pass-heaviest offense to its 14th run-heaviest. Sanu is worth stashing in most fantasy leagues but won't be a recommended Week 8 starter. The Falcons, meanwhile, figures to roll with either Justin Hardy or Russell Gage as the #3 WR. But Sanu's departure will mostly just free up extra targets for Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Austin Hooper.

Falcons TE Austin Hooper (ankle, knee) is not listed on the final injury report. He was limited in practice all week, though, after playing a season-low 51% of the offensive snaps last Sunday. It’s worth noting that Hooper only practiced on Friday last week. He’s seemingly healthier now but still comes with elevated risk in Week 16 fantasy lineups.

Falcons TE Austin Hooper (knee, ankle) was limited for the 2nd straight practice on Thursday. He played through these injuries last week but set season lows in targets (1) and snap rate (51%). Unless Hooper gets in a full workout on Friday, he'll be a shaky Week 16 fantasy play.

Falcons TE Austin Hooper (knee, ankle) only got in a limited practice on Friday but isn’t listed on the final injury report. That suggests the injuries aren’t a major concern. Hooper remains a relatively safe low-end TE1 for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Falcons TE Austin Hooper (knee, ankle) missed his 2nd straight practice on Thursday. He now appears to be in danger of missing this weekend's game against the Cardinals. We'll get another update on Hooper tomorrow.

Falcons TE Austin Hooper has spent "a lot of 1-on-1 time" with QB Matt Ryan this offseason, according to ESPN's Vaughn McClure. Hooper turned in a promising 2nd season, hauling in 49 of 65 targets (75.4% catch rate) for 526 yards and 3 scores. He's capable of making another leap in 2018. The question is whether there are enough targets to turn Hooper into a TE1. He ranked just 17th among TEs in targets last year and now has to contend with 1st-round rookie WR Calvin Ridley joining Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu.

The 2016 Falcons led the league in scoring and finished 2nd in total yards. So, not surprisingly, they don't want to alter the offense, despite the departure of OC Kyle Shanahan. "We love the way that we attack, and it took a lot of work to put that system in place," HC Dan Quinn said. "Along with [GM Thomas Dimitroff], we have a real emphasis now on how we can fit guys into that system. It's very important that we stay consistent with that." In theory, it's good news for QB Matt Ryan and Atlanta's skill-position guys. But we'll see exactly how similar the offense is under new OC Steve Sarkisian.

The Falcons are set to hire Steve Sarkisian as their new OC, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 42-year-old has spent the bulk of his coaching career so far in the NCAA. His only NFL experience was as the Raiders' QB coach in 2004. (Kerry Collins was his starter.) Sarkisian has loads of talent to work with in Atlanta. But, at least on paper, he's a significant downgrade from Kyle Shanahan.

Falcons TE Austin Hooper (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Saints. He’s reportedly dealing with a sprained MCL and seems iffy for the postseason.

Falcons TE Austin Hooper (knee) is out for Saturday’s game against the Panthers. We still don’t have any details on his injury, but Atlanta hasn't placed him on IR. Levine Toilolo will operate as the Falcons’ lead TE this weekend but isn’t a fantasy option.

Falcons TE Austin Hooper was carted off in the 4th quarter of Sunday's game against the 49ers with a knee injury. He was immediately ruled out for the rest of the contest. This has the look of a serious one. We'll update Hooper's status when we learn more.

Falcons TE Jacob Tamme is expected to need season-ending shoulder surgery, according to ESPN's Vaughn McClure. Tamme will get a 2nd opinion Wednesday. His absence would keep rookie Austin Hooper in the lead role the rest of the way. Tamme's headed for free agency in March.

Update: Tamme had surgery on Thursday and is done for the year.

Falcons TE Jacob Tamme (shoulder) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Eagles. That gives rookie TE Austin Hooper another start after posting a 3-46-1 line in Atlanta's last game. Philly sits 3rd in fantasy points allowed to TEs and 4th in Football Outsiders' TE coverage rankings, though, leaving Hooper as just a TE2.

Falcons HC Dan Quinn admitted Thursday that TE Jacob Tamme (shoulder) is not expected to play against the Eagles this weekend. That means another start for rookie TE Austin Hooper, who played 75% of the snaps and saw 6 targets last week. His issue this week is that Philly sits 3rd in fantasy points allowed to TEs and 4th in Football Outsiders' TE coverage rankings.

Falcons TE Jacob Tamme injured his shoulder in the 1st half of Sunday's game against the Packers and will not return. His absence leaves Atlanta with TEs Austin Hooper and Levine Toilolo.

The Falcons added TE Austin Hooper in the 3rd round of the 2016 NFL Draft.  He goes 6'4, 254 pounds with a SPARQ score in the 59th percentile.  Hooper didn't post big numbers in Stanford's run-heavy offense but showed plenty of pass-catching upside when given a shot.  He even lined up out wide or in the slot on 44% of his snaps.  Hooper needs to improve his hands, though, after dropping nearly 11% of his catchable targets.  He could quickly zoom by Jacob Tamme and Levine Toilolo to the top of Atlanta's depth chart and eventually emerge as a top-3 option in the passing game.