Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Derrick HenryWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.0 PPG to Darren Waller's 9.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Derrick Henry (16.0 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.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TEMiami Dolphins#8

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

RBBaltimore Ravens#7PPG LEADER

Derrick Henry

PPG

16.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,595

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

150

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Derrick Henry

Head to Head

9.6 PPG16.0 PPG

8 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Derrick Henry: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #7 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) RB in most league formats.

Darren Waller vs Derrick Henry: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Darren Waller (TE, Miami Dolphins) against Derrick Henry (RB, Baltimore Ravens) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG in 2025 over 8 games, while Derrick Henry posted 16.0 PPG across 17 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, Derrick Henry in Week 13. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Derrick Henry is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Darren Waller is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Darren Waller (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Derrick Henry (age 32, 9 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Derrick Henry outscored Darren Waller by a projected 109 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Derrick Henry played 17 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Derrick Henry contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Derrick Henry scored 16 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.9 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•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

Darren Waller vs Derrick Henry: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Derrick Henry
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	16.0
Games Played	8	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	272
Rushing Yards	4	1,595
Rush Yds/Game	0.5	93.8
Rushing TDs	0	16
Receptions	24	15
Receiving Yards	283	150
Targets	34	21
Total TDs	6	16
Age	33	32
Experience	10 yrs	9 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 13

Summary

16.0 PPG for Derrick Henry versus 9.6 for Darren Waller in 2025. The baseline favors Derrick Henry, 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 Darren Waller or Derrick Henry in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Derrick Henry has the edge at 16.0 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 Derrick Henry average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 6.4 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Derrick Henry's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6, and Derrick Henry (BAL) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.