Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cade Otton vs Darren WallerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Cade Otton's 6.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

Darren Waller has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.4-PPG advantage is real (9.6 to 6.2), and Darren Waller's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Cade Otton is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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TETampa Bay Buccaneers#29

Cade Otton

PPG

6.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

572

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

TEMiami Dolphins#8PPG LEADER

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Cade Otton

Darren Waller

Head to Head

6.2 PPG9.6 PPG

15 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Cade Otton: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #29 at the position). Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Cade Otton is producing at 28% 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.

Cade Otton vs Darren Waller: The Full Breakdown

Cade Otton and Darren Waller are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Cade Otton averaged 6.2 PPG across 15 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Darren Waller posted 9.6 PPG in 8 appearances for the Miami Dolphins.

A 3.4-PPG gap gives Darren Waller the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Cade Otton is the volume tight end in this matchup with 59 receptions for 572 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 Cade Otton, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Cade Otton is off Week 10 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. Cade Otton is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Cade Otton (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 Cade Otton by a projected 58 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cade Otton played 15 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Cade Otton 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.
•Cade Otton saw 81 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Cade Otton is 6 years younger than Darren Waller (27 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cade Otton vs Darren Waller: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cade Otton	Darren Waller
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.2	9.6
Games Played	15	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	93	77
Receptions	59	24
Rec/Game	3.9	3.0
Receiving Yards	572	283
Rec Yds/Game	38.1	35.4
Receiving TDs	1	6
Targets	81	34
Target Share/Game	5.4	4.3
Age	27	33
Experience	3 yrs	10 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 6

Summary

Darren Waller outscored Cade Otton by 3.4 PPG in 2025 (9.6 to 6.2). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cade Otton or Darren Waller in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Cade Otton's 6.2 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 Cade Otton and Darren Waller average in 2025?▾

Cade Otton averaged 6.2 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 3.4 points per game.

When are Cade Otton and Darren Waller's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cade Otton (TB) has a bye in Week 10, and Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cade Otton or Darren Waller a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Cade Otton by 3.4 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.