Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Noah GrayWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Noah Gray's 4.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

Darren Waller is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 9.6 PPG and 287 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Noah Gray (4.6 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Darren Waller as the starter and Noah Gray as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Darren Waller and Noah Gray in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

TEMiami Dolphins#8PPG LEADER

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

TEKansas City Chiefs#99

Noah Gray

PPG

4.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

385

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Noah Gray

Head to Head

9.6 PPG4.6 PPG

8 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Noah Gray: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and Noah Gray at 21%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darren Waller vs Noah Gray: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Darren Waller (Miami Dolphins) finished the 2025 season averaging 9.6 fantasy points per game in 8 games. Noah Gray (Kansas City Chiefs) came in at 4.6 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Darren Waller carries a 5.0-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Darren Waller had 24 catches for 283 yards; Noah Gray posted 38 for 385. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 6 bye. That means you need a backup plan at tight end for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Darren Waller at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Noah Gray is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Darren Waller (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Noah Gray (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored Noah Gray by a projected 85 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Noah Gray played 17 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Noah Gray 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.
•Noah Gray saw 50 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Both players share a Week 6 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Noah Gray: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Noah Gray
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	4.6
Games Played	8	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	78
Receptions	24	38
Rec/Game	3.0	2.2
Receiving Yards	283	385
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	22.6
Receiving TDs	6	2
Targets	34	50
Target Share/Game	4.3	2.9
Age	33	-
Experience	10 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 6

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Darren Waller holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 9.6 points per game. Noah Gray averaged 4.6 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Darren Waller vs Noah Gray

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Darren Waller vs Noah Gray

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darren Waller or Noah Gray in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Noah Gray's 4.6 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 Noah Gray average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Noah Gray averaged 4.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.0 points per game.

Do Darren Waller and Noah Gray share a bye week?▾

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

Is Darren Waller or Noah Gray a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Noah Gray by 5.0 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.