Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs Terrance FergusonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Terrance Ferguson's 3.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

Darren Waller is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 9.6 PPG and 287 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Terrance Ferguson (3.3 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Darren Waller as the starter and Terrance Ferguson as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TEMiami Dolphins#8PPG LEADER

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

TELos Angeles Rams#99

Terrance Ferguson

PPG

3.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

231

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

Terrance Ferguson

Head to Head

9.6 PPG3.3 PPG

8 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Terrance Ferguson: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and Terrance Ferguson at 15%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darren Waller vs Terrance Ferguson: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two tight ends. Darren Waller (Miami Dolphins) averaged 9.6 PPG over 8 games in 2025, outscoring Terrance Ferguson (Los Angeles Rams, 3.3 PPG) by 6.3 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 6.3-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.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Darren Waller had 24 catches for 283 yards; Terrance Ferguson posted 11 for 231. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 6 bye. That means you need a backup plan at tight end for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Darren Waller at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Terrance Ferguson 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. Terrance Ferguson (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored Terrance Ferguson by a projected 107 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Terrance Ferguson played 14 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Terrance Ferguson 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.
•Darren Waller saw 34 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Terrance Ferguson is 10 years younger than Darren Waller (23 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs Terrance Ferguson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	Terrance Ferguson
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	3.3
Games Played	8	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	46
Receptions	24	11
Rec/Game	3.0	0.8
Receiving Yards	283	231
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	16.5
Receiving TDs	6	3
Targets	34	25
Target Share/Game	4.3	1.8
Age	33	23
Experience	10 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 6

Summary

Darren Waller outscored Terrance Ferguson by 6.3 PPG in 2025 (9.6 to 3.3). 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 Terrance Ferguson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Terrance Ferguson's 3.3 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 Terrance Ferguson average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Terrance Ferguson averaged 3.3 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 6.3 points per game.

Do Darren Waller and Terrance Ferguson share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Darren Waller and Terrance Ferguson share a Week 6 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at tight end for that week.

Is Darren Waller or Terrance Ferguson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Terrance Ferguson by 6.3 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.