Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Jaylen WaddleWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jaylen Waddle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.1 PPG to Darren Waller's 9.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jaylen Waddle is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Jaylen Waddle (10.1 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Darren Waller (9.6 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

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

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TEMiami Dolphins#8

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

WRMiami Dolphins#29PPG LEADER

Jaylen Waddle

PPG

10.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

910

Rec TDs

Targets

100

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Jaylen Waddle

Head to Head

9.6 PPG10.1 PPG

8 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Jaylen Waddle: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #29 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR in most league formats.

Darren Waller vs Jaylen Waddle: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Darren Waller (TE, Miami Dolphins) against Jaylen Waddle (WR, Miami Dolphins) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG in 2025 over 8 games, while Jaylen Waddle posted 10.1 PPG across 16 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs 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: Darren Waller (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Jaylen Waddle (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Jaylen Waddle outscored Darren Waller by a projected 9 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jaylen Waddle played 16 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Jaylen Waddle 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.
•Jaylen Waddle saw 100 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Jaylen Waddle is 6 years younger than Darren Waller (27 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Jaylen Waddle: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Jaylen Waddle
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	10.1
Games Played	8	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	162
Receptions	24	64
Rec/Game	3.0	4.0
Receiving Yards	283	910
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	56.9
Receiving TDs	6	6
Targets	34	100
Target Share/Game	4.3	6.3
Age	33	27
Experience	10 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 6

Summary

10.1 PPG for Jaylen Waddle versus 9.6 for Darren Waller in 2025. The baseline favors Jaylen Waddle, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darren Waller or Jaylen Waddle in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jaylen Waddle has the edge at 10.1 PPG compared to Darren Waller's 9.6 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 Darren Waller and Jaylen Waddle average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Jaylen Waddle averaged 10.1 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 0.5 points per game.

Do Darren Waller and Jaylen Waddle share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Darren Waller and Jaylen Waddle share a Week 6 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at tight end for that week.