Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs J.K. DobbinsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

J.K. Dobbins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.0 PPG to Darren Waller's 9.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

J.K. Dobbins is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, J.K. Dobbins (11.0 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.

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

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TEMiami Dolphins#8

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

RBDenver Broncos#25PPG LEADER

J.K. Dobbins

PPG

11.0

Games

Rush Yds

772

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

J.K. Dobbins

Head to Head

9.6 PPG11.0 PPG

8 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). J.K. Dobbins: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #25 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 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB in most league formats.

Darren Waller vs J.K. Dobbins: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Darren Waller (TE, Miami Dolphins) against J.K. Dobbins (RB, Denver Broncos) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG in 2025 over 8 games, while J.K. Dobbins posted 11.0 PPG across 10 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, J.K. Dobbins in Week 10. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

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. J.K. Dobbins (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•J.K. Dobbins outscored Darren Waller by a projected 24 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•J.K. Dobbins played 10 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means J.K. Dobbins 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.
•Darren Waller saw 34 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•J.K. Dobbins is 6 years younger than Darren Waller (27 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs J.K. Dobbins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	J.K. Dobbins
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	11.0
Games Played	8	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	110
Rushing Yards	4	772
Rush Yds/Game	0.5	77.2
Rushing TDs	0	4
Receptions	24	11
Receiving Yards	283	37
Targets	34	14
Total TDs	6	4
Age	33	27
Experience	10 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 10

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor J.K. Dobbins at 11.0 PPG, 1.4 points per game above Darren Waller's 9.6. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darren Waller or J.K. Dobbins in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, J.K. Dobbins has the edge at 11.0 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 J.K. Dobbins average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. J.K. Dobbins averaged 11.0 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 1.4 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and J.K. Dobbins's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6, and J.K. Dobbins (DEN) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.