Coming into the 2018 season, one player who was repeatedly called out and challenged by the fanbase to take that next step was tight end Austin Hooper.
The Stanford product was a third-round draft pick and was facing what was likely a make-or-break season as far as his starting job on the team was concerned. He did well in relief of Jacob Tamme in his rookie season, but then seemingly regressed in year two.
Nearly at the halfway mark of the 2018 season, Austin Hooper has proven his emergence and has stepped up for the Atlanta Falcons.