Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Trey McBrideWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Trey McBride is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.9 PPG to Darren Waller's 9.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Trey McBride is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Trey McBride outscored Darren Waller by 5.3 PPG in 2025 with 11 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Trey McBride is the clear pick. Darren Waller profiles as a matchup-dependent tight end who can spike but lacks the consistent floor.

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

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TEMiami Dolphins#8

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

TEArizona Cardinals#1PPG LEADER

Trey McBride

PPG

14.9

Games

Rec

126

Rec Yds

1,239

Rec TDs

Targets

169

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Trey McBride

Head to Head

9.6 PPG14.9 PPG

8 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Trey McBride: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #1 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and Trey McBride at 68%. That ranking gap means Trey McBride carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darren Waller vs Trey McBride: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Darren Waller and Trey McBride for your lineup, you are not alone. Darren Waller finished the 2025 season at 9.6 PPG for the Miami Dolphins (8 games), and Trey McBride averaged 14.9 for the Arizona Cardinals (17 games).

That 5.3-point weekly advantage for Trey McBride is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Trey McBride is the volume tight end in this matchup with 126 receptions for 1239 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 Trey McBride, but the floor gap is real.

Darren Waller has his bye in Week 6, and Trey McBride rests in Week 14. 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

Trey McBride is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Darren Waller is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Darren Waller (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Trey McBride (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Trey McBride outscored Darren Waller by a projected 90 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Trey McBride played 17 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Trey McBride contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Trey McBride scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Trey McBride saw 169 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Trey McBride is 7 years younger than Darren Waller (26 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Trey McBride: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Trey McBride
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	14.9
Games Played	8	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	253
Receptions	24	126
Rec/Game	3.0	7.4
Receiving Yards	283	1,239
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	72.9
Receiving TDs	6	11
Targets	34	169
Target Share/Game	4.3	9.9
Age	33	26
Experience	10 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 14

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Trey McBride at 14.9 PPG, 5.3 points per game above Darren Waller's 9.6. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darren Waller or Trey McBride in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Trey McBride has the edge at 14.9 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 Trey McBride average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Trey McBride averaged 14.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.3 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Trey McBride's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6, and Trey McBride (ARI) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darren Waller or Trey McBride a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Trey McBride outscored Darren Waller by 5.3 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.