Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cade Stover 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 Stover's 3.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Darren Waller outscored Cade Stover by 6.1 PPG in 2025 with 6 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Darren Waller is the clear pick. Cade Stover 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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TEHouston Texans#99

Cade Stover

PPG

3.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

215

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

Cade Stover

Darren Waller

Head to Head

3.5 PPG9.6 PPG

15 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Cade Stover: 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, Cade Stover is producing at 16% 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 Stover vs Darren Waller: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two tight ends. Darren Waller (Miami Dolphins) averaged 9.6 PPG over 8 games in 2025, outscoring Cade Stover (Houston Texans, 3.5 PPG) by 6.1 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

The per-game difference of 6.1 points favors Darren Waller, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one tight end to the other.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Cade Stover had 22 catches for 215 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: Cade Stover 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

Darren Waller is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Cade Stover is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Cade Stover (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 Stover by a projected 104 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cade Stover played 15 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Cade Stover 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.
•Darren Waller saw 34 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cade Stover vs Darren Waller: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cade Stover	Darren Waller
PPG (Half-PPR)	3.5	9.6
Games Played	15	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	53	77
Receptions	22	24
Rec/Game	1.5	3.0
Receiving Yards	215	283
Rec Yds/Game	14.3	35.4
Receiving TDs	1	6
Targets	32	34
Target Share/Game	2.1	4.3
Age	-	33
Experience	-	10 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 6

Summary

9.6 PPG for Darren Waller versus 3.5 for Cade Stover in 2025. The baseline favors Darren Waller, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Cade Stover's 3.5 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 Stover and Darren Waller average in 2025?▾

Cade Stover averaged 3.5 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 6.1 points per game.

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

Cade Stover (HOU) 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 Cade Stover or Darren Waller a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Cade Stover by 6.1 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.