Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Austin Hooper vs Darren WallerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Austin Hooper's 4.0 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. Austin Hooper (4.0 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Darren Waller as the starter and Austin Hooper as depth.

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

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TENew England Patriots#99

Austin Hooper

PPG

4.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

292

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

TEMiami Dolphins#8PPG LEADER

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Austin Hooper

Darren Waller

Head to Head

4.0 PPG9.6 PPG

15 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Hooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Austin Hooper is producing at 18% 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.

Austin Hooper vs Darren Waller: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Austin Hooper (New England Patriots) finished the 2025 season averaging 4.0 fantasy points per game in 15 games. Darren Waller (Miami Dolphins) came in at 9.6 PPG over 8 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Darren Waller carries a 5.6-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. Austin Hooper had 32 catches for 292 yards; Darren Waller posted 24 for 283. 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 scheduling note: Austin Hooper is off Week 14 and Darren Waller Week 6. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Darren Waller at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Austin Hooper is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Austin Hooper (age 27) 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 Austin Hooper by a projected 95 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Austin Hooper played 15 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Austin Hooper 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.
•Austin Hooper saw 42 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Austin Hooper vs Darren Waller: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Austin Hooper	Darren Waller
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	9.6
Games Played	15	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	60	77
Receptions	32	24
Rec/Game	2.1	3.0
Receiving Yards	292	283
Rec Yds/Game	19.5	35.4
Receiving TDs	1	6
Targets	42	34
Target Share/Game	2.8	4.3
Age	-	33
Experience	-	10 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 6

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Darren Waller holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 9.6 points per game. Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Austin Hooper or Darren Waller in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Austin Hooper's 4.0 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 Austin Hooper and Darren Waller average in 2025?▾

Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 5.6 points per game.

When are Austin Hooper and Darren Waller's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Austin Hooper or Darren Waller a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Austin Hooper by 5.6 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.