Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Juwan JohnsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Juwan Johnson's 8.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Darren Waller and Juwan Johnson are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 1.3-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

TENew Orleans Saints#17

Juwan Johnson

PPG

8.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

889

Rec TDs

Targets

102

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Juwan Johnson

Head to Head

9.6 PPG8.3 PPG

8 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Juwan Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #17 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and Juwan Johnson at 38%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darren Waller vs Juwan Johnson: The Full Breakdown

The gap between Darren Waller and Juwan Johnson is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 1.3 PPG in 2025, this is one of those tight end decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG with the Miami Dolphins across 8 games, and Juwan Johnson posted 8.3 with the New Orleans Saints in 17.

When two tight ends are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.

Juwan Johnson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 77 receptions for 889 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 Juwan Johnson, but the floor gap is real.

Darren Waller has his bye in Week 6, and Juwan Johnson rests in Week 8. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

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. Juwan Johnson (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored Juwan Johnson by a projected 22 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Juwan Johnson played 17 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Juwan Johnson 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.
•Juwan Johnson saw 102 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Juwan Johnson is 4 years younger than Darren Waller (29 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Juwan Johnson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Juwan Johnson
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	8.3
Games Played	8	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	141
Receptions	24	77
Rec/Game	3.0	4.5
Receiving Yards	283	889
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	52.3
Receiving TDs	6	3
Targets	34	102
Target Share/Game	4.3	6.0
Age	33	29
Experience	10 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 8

Summary

9.6 PPG for Darren Waller versus 8.3 for Juwan Johnson 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 Juwan Johnson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Juwan Johnson's 8.3 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 Juwan Johnson average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Juwan Johnson averaged 8.3 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 1.3 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Juwan Johnson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6, and Juwan Johnson (NO) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darren Waller or Juwan Johnson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Juwan Johnson by 1.3 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.