Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Jake FergusonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Jake Ferguson's 8.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Darren Waller and Jake Ferguson are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.9-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

TEDallas Cowboys#14

Jake Ferguson

PPG

8.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

600

Rec TDs

Targets

102

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Jake Ferguson

Head to Head

9.6 PPG8.7 PPG

8 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Jake Ferguson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #14 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and Jake Ferguson at 40%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darren Waller vs Jake Ferguson: The Full Breakdown

Darren Waller (9.6 PPG) and Jake Ferguson (8.7 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; Jake Ferguson suited up 17 times for the Dallas Cowboys.

A 0.9-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.

Jake Ferguson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 82 receptions for 600 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 Jake Ferguson, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Darren Waller sits Week 6 while Jake Ferguson is off Week 14. 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. Jake Ferguson (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored Jake Ferguson by a projected 15 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jake Ferguson played 17 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Jake Ferguson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jake Ferguson scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Jake Ferguson saw 102 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Jake Ferguson is 6 years younger than Darren Waller (27 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Jake Ferguson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Jake Ferguson
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	8.7
Games Played	8	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	148
Receptions	24	82
Rec/Game	3.0	4.8
Receiving Yards	283	600
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	35.3
Receiving TDs	6	8
Targets	34	102
Target Share/Game	4.3	6.0
Age	33	27
Experience	10 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 14

Summary

9.6 PPG for Darren Waller versus 8.7 for Jake Ferguson 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 Jake Ferguson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Jake Ferguson's 8.7 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 Jake Ferguson average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Jake Ferguson averaged 8.7 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 0.9 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Jake Ferguson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6, and Jake Ferguson (DAL) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darren Waller or Jake Ferguson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Jake Ferguson by 0.9 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.