Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Davante AdamsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Davante Adams is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.8 PPG to Darren Waller's 9.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Davante Adams is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Davante Adams (13.8 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Darren Waller (9.6 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

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

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TEMiami Dolphins#8

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

WRLos Angeles Rams#8PPG LEADER

Davante Adams

PPG

13.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

789

Rec TDs

Targets

114

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Davante Adams

Head to Head

9.6 PPG13.8 PPG

8 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Davante Adams: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #8 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR in most league formats.

Darren Waller vs Davante Adams: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Darren Waller (TE, Miami Dolphins) against Davante Adams (WR, Los Angeles Rams) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG in 2025 over 8 games, while Davante Adams posted 13.8 PPG across 14 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Darren Waller has his bye in Week 6, Davante Adams in Week 11. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Davante Adams at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Darren Waller is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Darren Waller (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Davante Adams (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Davante Adams outscored Darren Waller by a projected 71 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Davante Adams played 14 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Davante Adams contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Davante Adams scored 14 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.0 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Davante Adams saw 114 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Davante Adams: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Davante Adams
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	13.8
Games Played	8	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	193
Receptions	24	60
Rec/Game	3.0	4.3
Receiving Yards	283	789
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	56.4
Receiving TDs	6	14
Targets	34	114
Target Share/Game	4.3	8.1
Age	33	33
Experience	10 yrs	11 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Davante Adams holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 13.8 points per game. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darren Waller or Davante Adams in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Davante Adams has the edge at 13.8 PPG compared to Darren Waller's 9.6 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 Darren Waller and Davante Adams average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Davante Adams averaged 13.8 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 4.2 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Davante Adams's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6, and Davante Adams (LAR) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.