Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Dalton Schultz vs Darren WallerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Dalton Schultz's 8.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

Darren Waller has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.6-PPG advantage is real (9.6 to 8.0), and Darren Waller's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Dalton Schultz is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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TEHouston Texans#18

Dalton Schultz

PPG

8.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

777

Rec TDs

Targets

106

Bye

Week 8

TEMiami Dolphins#8PPG LEADER

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Dalton Schultz

Darren Waller

Head to Head

8.0 PPG9.6 PPG

17 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Dalton Schultz: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #18 at the position). Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Dalton Schultz is producing at 36% of elite pace and Darren Waller at 44%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Dalton Schultz vs Darren Waller: The Full Breakdown

Dalton Schultz and Darren Waller are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Dalton Schultz averaged 8.0 PPG across 17 games with the Houston Texans, while Darren Waller posted 9.6 PPG in 8 appearances for the Miami Dolphins.

A 1.6-PPG gap gives Darren Waller the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Dalton Schultz is the volume tight end in this matchup with 82 receptions for 777 yards, while Darren Waller profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (6 scores on 24 catches). In weeks where Darren Waller finds the end zone he out-scores Dalton Schultz, but the floor gap is real.

Dalton Schultz has his bye in Week 8, and Darren Waller rests in Week 6. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Dalton Schultz (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Darren Waller (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored Dalton Schultz by a projected 27 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Dalton Schultz played 17 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Dalton Schultz contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Darren Waller scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Dalton Schultz saw 106 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Dalton Schultz is 4 years younger than Darren Waller (29 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Dalton Schultz vs Darren Waller: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Dalton Schultz	Darren Waller
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	9.6
Games Played	17	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	77
Receptions	82	24
Rec/Game	4.8	3.0
Receiving Yards	777	283
Rec Yds/Game	45.7	35.4
Receiving TDs	3	6
Targets	106	34
Target Share/Game	6.2	4.3
Age	29	33
Experience	7 yrs	10 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 6

Summary

Darren Waller outscored Dalton Schultz by 1.6 PPG in 2025 (9.6 to 8.0). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Dalton Schultz or Darren Waller in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Dalton Schultz's 8.0 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Dalton Schultz and Darren Waller average in 2025?▾

Dalton Schultz averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 1.6 points per game.

When are Dalton Schultz and Darren Waller's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Dalton Schultz (HOU) has a bye in Week 8, and Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Dalton Schultz or Darren Waller a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Dalton Schultz by 1.6 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.