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Head to Head

Updated from live stats

Brenton Strange vs Darren WallerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Brenton Strange's 7.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

Darren Waller is the better play on a neutral week. 9.6 PPG with 287 yards gives a reliable baseline. Brenton Strange at 7.9 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Darren Waller higher, but do not fade Brenton Strange entirely.

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

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TEJacksonville Jaguars#19
Brenton Strange
PPG
7.9
Games
12
Rec
46
Rec Yds
540
Rec TDs
3
Targets
60
Bye
Week 7
TEMiami Dolphins#8PPG LEADER
Darren Waller
PPG
9.6
Games
8
Rec
24
Rec Yds
283
Rec TDs
6
Targets
34
Bye
Week 6

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Brenton Strange
Darren Waller

Head to Head

7.9 PPG9.6 PPG
12 GP8 GP
Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Brenton Strange: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #19 at the position). Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Brenton Strange is producing at 36% 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.

Brenton Strange vs Darren Waller: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Brenton Strange and Darren Waller for your lineup, you are not alone. Brenton Strange finished the 2025 season at 7.9 PPG for the Jacksonville Jaguars (12 games), and Darren Waller averaged 9.6 for the Miami Dolphins (8 games).

That 1.7-point weekly advantage for Darren Waller 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.

Brenton Strange is the volume tight end in this matchup with 46 receptions for 540 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 Brenton Strange, but the floor gap is real.

Brenton Strange has his bye in Week 7, and Darren Waller rests in Week 6. 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

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: Brenton Strange (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. 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 Brenton Strange by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Brenton Strange played 12 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Brenton Strange 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.
  • Brenton Strange saw 60 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
  • Brenton Strange is 8 years younger than Darren Waller (25 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Brenton Strange vs Darren Waller: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatBrenton StrangeDarren Waller
PPG (Half-PPR)7.99.6
Games Played128
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)9577
Receptions4624
Rec/Game3.83.0
Receiving Yards540283
Rec Yds/Game45.035.4
Receiving TDs36
Targets6034
Target Share/Game5.04.3
Age2533
Experience2 yrs10 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 7Week 6

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Darren Waller at 9.6 PPG, 1.7 points per game above Brenton Strange's 7.9. 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 Brenton Strange or Darren Waller in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Brenton Strange's 7.9 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 Brenton Strange and Darren Waller average in 2025?

Brenton Strange averaged 7.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

When are Brenton Strange and Darren Waller's bye weeks in 2026?

Brenton Strange (JAX) has a bye in Week 7, and Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Brenton Strange or Darren Waller a better fantasy tight end in 2026?

Darren Waller outscored Brenton Strange by 1.7 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.

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