Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Josh JacobsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Josh Jacobs is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.6 PPG to Darren Waller's 9.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Josh Jacobs is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Josh Jacobs (14.6 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

RBGreen Bay Packers#8PPG LEADER

Josh Jacobs

PPG

14.6

Games

Rush Yds

929

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

282

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Josh Jacobs

Head to Head

9.6 PPG14.6 PPG

8 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Josh Jacobs: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #8 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 Josh Jacobs: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Darren Waller (TE, Miami Dolphins) against Josh Jacobs (RB, Green Bay Packers) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG in 2025 over 8 games, while Josh Jacobs posted 14.6 PPG across 15 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, Josh Jacobs in Week 11. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Josh Jacobs 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. Josh Jacobs (age 28, 6 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Josh Jacobs outscored Darren Waller by a projected 85 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Josh Jacobs played 15 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Josh Jacobs contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Josh Jacobs scored 14 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.9 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Josh Jacobs saw 44 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Josh Jacobs is 5 years younger than Darren Waller (28 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Josh Jacobs: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Josh Jacobs
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	14.6
Games Played	8	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	219
Rushing Yards	4	929
Rush Yds/Game	0.5	61.9
Rushing TDs	0	13
Receptions	24	36
Receiving Yards	283	282
Targets	34	44
Total TDs	6	14
Age	33	28
Experience	10 yrs	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 11

Summary

14.6 PPG for Josh Jacobs versus 9.6 for Darren Waller in 2025. The baseline favors Josh Jacobs, 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 Josh Jacobs in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Josh Jacobs has the edge at 14.6 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 Josh Jacobs average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Josh Jacobs averaged 14.6 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 5.0 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Josh Jacobs's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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