Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Harold Fannin Jr.Who should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Harold Fannin Jr.'s 9.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Darren Waller and Harold Fannin Jr. are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.2-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

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

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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#9

Harold Fannin Jr.

PPG

9.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

731

Rec TDs

Targets

107

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Harold Fannin Jr.

Head to Head

9.6 PPG9.4 PPG

8 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Harold Fannin Jr.: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #9 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and Harold Fannin Jr. at 43%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Darren Waller vs Harold Fannin Jr.: The Full Breakdown

Darren Waller (9.6 PPG) and Harold Fannin Jr. (9.4 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two tight ends are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Darren Waller played 8 games for the Miami Dolphins; Harold Fannin Jr. suited up 16 times for the Cleveland Browns.

A 0.2-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Harold Fannin Jr. is the volume tight end in this matchup with 72 receptions for 731 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 Harold Fannin Jr., but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Darren Waller sits Week 6 while Harold Fannin Jr. 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

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: Darren Waller (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Harold Fannin Jr. (age 21) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored Harold Fannin Jr. by a projected 3 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Harold Fannin Jr. played 16 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Harold Fannin Jr. contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Harold Fannin Jr. scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Harold Fannin Jr. saw 107 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Harold Fannin Jr. is 12 years younger than Darren Waller (21 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Harold Fannin Jr.: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Harold Fannin Jr.
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	9.4
Games Played	8	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	150
Receptions	24	72
Rec/Game	3.0	4.5
Receiving Yards	283	731
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	45.7
Receiving TDs	6	6
Targets	34	107
Target Share/Game	4.3	6.7
Age	33	21
Experience	10 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 11

Summary

9.6 PPG for Darren Waller versus 9.4 for Harold Fannin Jr. 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 Darren Waller or Harold Fannin Jr. in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Harold Fannin Jr.'s 9.4 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 Harold Fannin Jr. average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Harold Fannin Jr. averaged 9.4 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 0.2 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Harold Fannin Jr.'s bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Darren Waller or Harold Fannin Jr. a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Harold Fannin Jr. by 0.2 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.