Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Saquon BarkleyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Saquon Barkley is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.4 PPG to Darren Waller's 9.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Saquon Barkley is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Saquon Barkley (13.4 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.

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

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TEMiami Dolphins#8

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

RBPhiladelphia Eagles#14PPG LEADER

Saquon Barkley

PPG

13.4

Games

Rush Yds

1,140

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

273

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Saquon Barkley

Head to Head

9.6 PPG13.4 PPG

8 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Saquon Barkley: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #14 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 3 (Flex/Starter) RB in most league formats.

Darren Waller vs Saquon Barkley: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Darren Waller (TE, Miami Dolphins) against Saquon Barkley (RB, Philadelphia Eagles) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG in 2025 over 8 games, while Saquon Barkley posted 13.4 PPG across 16 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, Saquon Barkley in Week 10. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Saquon Barkley at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back 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. Saquon Barkley (age 29, 7 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Saquon Barkley outscored Darren Waller by a projected 65 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Saquon Barkley played 16 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Saquon Barkley contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Saquon Barkley scored 9 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Saquon Barkley saw 50 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Saquon Barkley is 4 years younger than Darren Waller (29 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Saquon Barkley: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Saquon Barkley
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	13.4
Games Played	8	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	214
Rushing Yards	4	1,140
Rush Yds/Game	0.5	71.3
Rushing TDs	0	7
Receptions	24	37
Receiving Yards	283	273
Targets	34	50
Total TDs	6	9
Age	33	29
Experience	10 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Saquon Barkley holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 13.4 points per game. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darren Waller or Saquon Barkley in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Saquon Barkley has the edge at 13.4 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 Saquon Barkley average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Saquon Barkley averaged 13.4 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 3.8 points per game.

When are Darren Waller and Saquon Barkley's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6, and Saquon Barkley (PHI) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.