Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs David NjokuWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to David Njoku's 6.3 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 3.3-PPG advantage is real (9.6 to 6.3), and Darren Waller's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. David Njoku 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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TEMiami Dolphins#8PPG LEADER

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

TECleveland Browns#26

David Njoku

PPG

6.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

293

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

David Njoku

Head to Head

9.6 PPG6.3 PPG

8 GP11 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). David Njoku: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #26 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and David Njoku at 29%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darren Waller vs David Njoku: The Full Breakdown

Darren Waller and David Njoku are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG across 8 games with the Miami Dolphins, while David Njoku posted 6.3 PPG in 11 appearances for the Cleveland Browns.

A 3.3-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.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Darren Waller had 24 catches for 283 yards; David Njoku posted 33 for 293. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Darren Waller sits Week 6 while David Njoku is off Week 11. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Darren Waller at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. David Njoku 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. David Njoku (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored David Njoku by a projected 56 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•David Njoku played 11 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means David Njoku 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.
•David Njoku saw 48 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•David Njoku is 4 years younger than Darren Waller (29 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs David Njoku: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	David Njoku
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	6.3
Games Played	8	11
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	69
Receptions	24	33
Rec/Game	3.0	3.0
Receiving Yards	283	293
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	26.6
Receiving TDs	6	4
Targets	34	48
Target Share/Game	4.3	4.4
Age	33	29
Experience	10 yrs	8 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 11

Summary

Darren Waller outscored David Njoku by 3.3 PPG in 2025 (9.6 to 6.3). 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 Darren Waller or David Njoku in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to David Njoku's 6.3 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 David Njoku average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. David Njoku averaged 6.3 PPG over 11 games. That is a difference of 3.3 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and David Njoku's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Darren Waller or David Njoku a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored David Njoku by 3.3 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.