Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Rashee RiceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.5 PPG to Darren Waller's 9.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Rashee Rice (15.5 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

WRKansas City Chiefs#5PPG LEADER

Rashee Rice

PPG

15.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

571

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Rashee Rice

Head to Head

9.6 PPG15.5 PPG

8 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Rashee Rice: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #5 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 1 (Elite) WR in most league formats.

Darren Waller vs Rashee Rice: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Darren Waller (TE, Miami Dolphins) against Rashee Rice (WR, Kansas City Chiefs) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG in 2025 over 8 games, while Rashee Rice posted 15.5 PPG across 8 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, Rashee Rice in Week 5. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Rashee Rice at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Darren Waller 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. Rashee Rice (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Rashee Rice outscored Darren Waller by a projected 100 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Darren Waller scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Rashee Rice saw 78 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Rashee Rice is 7 years younger than Darren Waller (26 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Rashee Rice: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Rashee Rice
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	15.5
Games Played	8	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	124
Receptions	24	53
Rec/Game	3.0	6.6
Receiving Yards	283	571
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	71.4
Receiving TDs	6	5
Targets	34	78
Target Share/Game	4.3	9.8
Age	33	26
Experience	10 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 5

Summary

Rashee Rice outscored Darren Waller by 5.9 PPG in 2025 (15.5 to 9.6). 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 Rashee Rice in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rashee Rice has the edge at 15.5 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 Rashee Rice average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 5.9 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Rashee Rice's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6, and Rashee Rice (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.