Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Tucker KraftWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Tucker Kraft is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.6 PPG to Darren Waller's 9.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Tucker Kraft is the better fantasy play this season.

Tucker Kraft is the better play on a neutral week. 12.6 PPG with 492 yards gives a reliable baseline. Darren Waller at 9.6 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Tucker Kraft higher, but do not fade Darren Waller entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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TEMiami Dolphins#8

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

TEGreen Bay Packers#2PPG LEADER

Tucker Kraft

PPG

12.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

489

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Tucker Kraft

Head to Head

9.6 PPG12.6 PPG

8 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Tucker Kraft: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #2 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and Tucker Kraft at 57%. That ranking gap means Tucker Kraft carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darren Waller vs Tucker Kraft: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Darren Waller and Tucker Kraft for your lineup, you are not alone. Darren Waller finished the 2025 season at 9.6 PPG for the Miami Dolphins (8 games), and Tucker Kraft averaged 12.6 for the Green Bay Packers (8 games).

That 3.0-point weekly advantage for Tucker Kraft 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.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Darren Waller had 24 catches for 283 yards; Tucker Kraft posted 32 for 489. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Darren Waller has his bye in Week 6, and Tucker Kraft rests in Week 11. 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

Tucker Kraft 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. Tucker Kraft (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Tucker Kraft outscored Darren Waller by a projected 51 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Darren Waller scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Tucker Kraft saw 44 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Tucker Kraft is 8 years younger than Darren Waller (25 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Tucker Kraft: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Tucker Kraft
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	12.6
Games Played	8	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	101
Receptions	24	32
Rec/Game	3.0	4.0
Receiving Yards	283	489
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	61.1
Receiving TDs	6	6
Targets	34	44
Target Share/Game	4.3	5.5
Age	33	25
Experience	10 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 11

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Tucker Kraft at 12.6 PPG, 3.0 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 Tucker Kraft in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Tucker Kraft has the edge at 12.6 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 Tucker Kraft average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Tucker Kraft averaged 12.6 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 3.0 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Tucker Kraft's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6, and Tucker Kraft (GB) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darren Waller or Tucker Kraft a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Tucker Kraft outscored Darren Waller by 3.0 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.