Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Mark AndrewsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Mark Andrews's 6.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

Darren Waller has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.3-PPG advantage is real (9.6 to 6.3), and Darren Waller's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Mark Andrews is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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TEMiami Dolphins#8PPG LEADER

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

TEBaltimore Ravens#27

Mark Andrews

PPG

6.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

422

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Mark Andrews

Head to Head

9.6 PPG6.3 PPG

8 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Mark Andrews: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #27 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and Mark Andrews at 29%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darren Waller vs Mark Andrews: The Full Breakdown

Darren Waller and Mark Andrews are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG across 8 games with the Miami Dolphins, while Mark Andrews posted 6.3 PPG in 17 appearances for the Baltimore Ravens.

A 3.3-PPG gap gives Darren Waller the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Mark Andrews is the volume tight end in this matchup with 48 receptions for 422 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 Mark Andrews, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Darren Waller sits Week 6 while Mark Andrews is off Week 13. 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

If you can acquire Darren Waller at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Mark Andrews 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. Mark Andrews (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored Mark Andrews by a projected 56 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Mark Andrews played 17 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Mark Andrews 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.
•Mark Andrews saw 70 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Mark Andrews: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Mark Andrews
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	6.3
Games Played	8	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	107
Receptions	24	48
Rec/Game	3.0	2.8
Receiving Yards	283	422
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	24.8
Receiving TDs	6	5
Targets	34	70
Target Share/Game	4.3	4.1
Age	33	30
Experience	10 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 13

Summary

Darren Waller outscored Mark Andrews by 3.3 PPG in 2025 (9.6 to 6.3). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darren Waller or Mark Andrews in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Mark Andrews's 6.3 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 Mark Andrews average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Mark Andrews averaged 6.3 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.3 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Mark Andrews's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6, and Mark Andrews (BAL) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darren Waller or Mark Andrews a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Mark Andrews by 3.3 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.