Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Pat FreiermuthWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Pat Freiermuth's 6.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

Darren Waller is the better play on a neutral week. 9.6 PPG with 287 yards gives a reliable baseline. Pat Freiermuth at 6.2 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Darren Waller higher, but do not fade Pat Freiermuth entirely.

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

TEPittsburgh Steelers#28

Pat Freiermuth

PPG

6.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

486

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Pat Freiermuth

Head to Head

9.6 PPG6.2 PPG

8 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Pat Freiermuth: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #28 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and Pat Freiermuth at 28%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darren Waller vs Pat Freiermuth: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Darren Waller and Pat Freiermuth is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Miami Dolphins tight end put up 9.6 PPG in 2025 over 8 games; Pat Freiermuth of the Pittsburgh Steelers averaged 6.2 in 15. A 3.4-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 3.4 points favors Darren Waller, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one tight end to the other.

Pat Freiermuth is the volume tight end in this matchup with 41 receptions for 486 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 Pat Freiermuth, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Darren Waller sits Week 6 while Pat Freiermuth is off Week 9. 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

Darren Waller is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Pat Freiermuth 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. Pat Freiermuth (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored Pat Freiermuth by a projected 58 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Pat Freiermuth played 15 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Pat Freiermuth 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.
•Pat Freiermuth saw 54 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Pat Freiermuth is 6 years younger than Darren Waller (27 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Pat Freiermuth: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Pat Freiermuth
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	6.2
Games Played	8	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	93
Receptions	24	41
Rec/Game	3.0	2.7
Receiving Yards	283	486
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	32.4
Receiving TDs	6	4
Targets	34	54
Target Share/Game	4.3	3.6
Age	33	27
Experience	10 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 9

Summary

9.6 PPG for Darren Waller versus 6.2 for Pat Freiermuth 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 Pat Freiermuth in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Pat Freiermuth's 6.2 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 Pat Freiermuth average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Pat Freiermuth averaged 6.2 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 3.4 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Pat Freiermuth's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6, and Pat Freiermuth (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darren Waller or Pat Freiermuth a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Pat Freiermuth by 3.4 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.