Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Oronde Gadsden IIWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Oronde Gadsden II's 7.1 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 2.5-PPG advantage is real (9.6 to 7.1), and Darren Waller's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Oronde Gadsden II 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.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Darren Waller and Oronde Gadsden II in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

TEMiami Dolphins#8PPG LEADER

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

TELos Angeles Chargers#23

Oronde Gadsden II

PPG

7.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

664

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Oronde Gadsden II

Head to Head

9.6 PPG7.1 PPG

8 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Oronde Gadsden II: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #23 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and Oronde Gadsden II at 32%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darren Waller vs Oronde Gadsden II: The Full Breakdown

Darren Waller and Oronde Gadsden II 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 Oronde Gadsden II posted 7.1 PPG in 15 appearances for the Los Angeles Chargers.

A 2.5-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.

Oronde Gadsden II is the volume tight end in this matchup with 49 receptions for 664 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 Oronde Gadsden II, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Darren Waller sits Week 6 while Oronde Gadsden II is off Week 7. 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. Oronde Gadsden II (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored Oronde Gadsden II by a projected 43 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Oronde Gadsden II played 15 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Oronde Gadsden II 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.
•Oronde Gadsden II saw 69 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Oronde Gadsden II is 11 years younger than Darren Waller (22 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Oronde Gadsden II: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Oronde Gadsden II
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	7.1
Games Played	8	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	107
Receptions	24	49
Rec/Game	3.0	3.3
Receiving Yards	283	664
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	44.3
Receiving TDs	6	3
Targets	34	69
Target Share/Game	4.3	4.6
Age	33	22
Experience	10 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 7

Summary

Darren Waller outscored Oronde Gadsden II by 2.5 PPG in 2025 (9.6 to 7.1). 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Darren Waller vs Oronde Gadsden II

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Darren Waller vs Oronde Gadsden II

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darren Waller or Oronde Gadsden II in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Oronde Gadsden II's 7.1 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 Oronde Gadsden II average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Oronde Gadsden II averaged 7.1 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 2.5 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Oronde Gadsden II's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6, and Oronde Gadsden II (LAC) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darren Waller or Oronde Gadsden II a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Oronde Gadsden II by 2.5 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.