Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Colston Loveland vs Darren WallerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Colston Loveland's 8.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

This one is genuinely close. Darren Waller edges Colston Loveland by 1.1 PPG, but both are in the same production tier. The decision comes down to weekly matchup, not season-long resume. If you are choosing between them in a draft, Darren Waller goes slightly earlier based on volume, but do not reach for the difference.

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

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TEChicago Bears#16

Colston Loveland

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

713

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

Colston Loveland

Darren Waller

Head to Head

8.5 PPG9.6 PPG

16 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Colston Loveland: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #16 at the position). Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Colston Loveland is producing at 39% 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.

Colston Loveland vs Darren Waller: The Full Breakdown

The gap between Colston Loveland and Darren Waller is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 1.1 PPG in 2025, this is one of those tight end decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. Colston Loveland averaged 8.5 PPG with the Chicago Bears across 16 games, and Darren Waller posted 9.6 with the Miami Dolphins in 8.

When two tight ends are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.

Colston Loveland is the volume tight end in this matchup with 58 receptions for 713 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 Colston Loveland, but the floor gap is real.

Colston Loveland has his bye in Week 10, 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: Colston Loveland (age 22) 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 Colston Loveland by a projected 19 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Colston Loveland played 16 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Colston Loveland contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Colston Loveland scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Colston Loveland saw 82 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Colston Loveland is 11 years younger than Darren Waller (22 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Colston Loveland vs Darren Waller: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Colston Loveland	Darren Waller
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.5	9.6
Games Played	16	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	77
Receptions	58	24
Rec/Game	3.6	3.0
Receiving Yards	713	283
Rec Yds/Game	44.6	35.4
Receiving TDs	6	6
Targets	82	34
Target Share/Game	5.1	4.3
Age	22	33
Experience	-	10 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 6

Summary

Darren Waller outscored Colston Loveland by 1.1 PPG in 2025 (9.6 to 8.5). 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 Colston Loveland or Darren Waller in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Colston Loveland's 8.5 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 Colston Loveland and Darren Waller average in 2025?▾

Colston Loveland averaged 8.5 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 1.1 points per game.

When are Colston Loveland and Darren Waller's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Colston Loveland (CHI) 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 Colston Loveland or Darren Waller a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Colston Loveland by 1.1 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.