Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cole Kmet vs Darren WallerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Cole Kmet's 4.0 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 Cole Kmet by 5.6 PPG in 2025 with 6 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Darren Waller is the clear pick. Cole Kmet 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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TEChicago Bears#99

Cole Kmet

PPG

4.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

347

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

TEMiami Dolphins#8PPG LEADER

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Cole Kmet

Darren Waller

Head to Head

4.0 PPG9.6 PPG

16 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Cole Kmet: 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, Cole Kmet 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.

Cole Kmet vs Darren Waller: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Cole Kmet and Darren Waller is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Chicago Bears tight end put up 4.0 PPG in 2025 over 16 games; Darren Waller of the Miami Dolphins averaged 9.6 in 8. A 5.6-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 5.6 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. Cole Kmet had 30 catches for 347 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: Cole Kmet is off Week 7 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. Cole Kmet is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Cole Kmet (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 Cole Kmet by a projected 95 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cole Kmet played 16 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Cole Kmet 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.
•Cole Kmet saw 48 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Cole Kmet is 6 years younger than Darren Waller (27 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cole Kmet vs Darren Waller: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cole Kmet	Darren Waller
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	9.6
Games Played	16	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	64	77
Receptions	30	24
Rec/Game	1.9	3.0
Receiving Yards	347	283
Rec Yds/Game	21.7	35.4
Receiving TDs	2	6
Targets	48	34
Target Share/Game	3.0	4.3
Age	27	33
Experience	6 yrs	10 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 6

Summary

9.6 PPG for Darren Waller versus 4.0 for Cole Kmet 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 Cole Kmet or Darren Waller in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Cole Kmet'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 Cole Kmet and Darren Waller average in 2025?▾

Cole Kmet averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 5.6 points per game.

When are Cole Kmet and Darren Waller's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cole Kmet (CHI) 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 Cole Kmet or Darren Waller a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Cole Kmet 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.