Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Isaiah LikelyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Isaiah Likely's 3.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

Darren Waller is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 9.6 PPG and 287 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Isaiah Likely (3.4 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Darren Waller as the starter and Isaiah Likely as depth.

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

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Darren Waller and Isaiah Likely in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

TEMiami Dolphins#8PPG LEADER

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

TENew York Giants#99

Isaiah Likely

PPG

3.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

307

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Isaiah Likely

Head to Head

9.6 PPG3.4 PPG

8 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Isaiah Likely: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and Isaiah Likely at 15%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darren Waller vs Isaiah Likely: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two tight ends. Darren Waller (Miami Dolphins) averaged 9.6 PPG over 8 games in 2025, outscoring Isaiah Likely (New York Giants, 3.4 PPG) by 6.2 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

Darren Waller carries a 6.2-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Darren Waller had 24 catches for 283 yards; Isaiah Likely posted 27 for 307. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

One scheduling note: Darren Waller is off Week 6 and Isaiah Likely Week 11. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Darren Waller at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Isaiah Likely 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. Isaiah Likely (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored Isaiah Likely by a projected 105 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Isaiah Likely played 14 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Isaiah Likely 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.
•Isaiah Likely saw 36 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Isaiah Likely is 7 years younger than Darren Waller (26 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Isaiah Likely: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Isaiah Likely
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	3.4
Games Played	8	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	48
Receptions	24	27
Rec/Game	3.0	1.9
Receiving Yards	283	307
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	21.9
Receiving TDs	6	1
Targets	34	36
Target Share/Game	4.3	2.6
Age	33	26
Experience	10 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Darren Waller holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 9.6 points per game. Isaiah Likely averaged 3.4 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Darren Waller vs Isaiah Likely

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Darren Waller vs Isaiah Likely

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darren Waller or Isaiah Likely in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Isaiah Likely's 3.4 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 Isaiah Likely average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Isaiah Likely averaged 3.4 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 6.2 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Isaiah Likely's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Darren Waller or Isaiah Likely a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Isaiah Likely by 6.2 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.