Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darren Waller vs T.J. HockensonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to T.J. Hockenson's 5.8 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. T.J. Hockenson at 5.8 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Darren Waller higher, but do not fade T.J. Hockenson 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

TEMinnesota Vikings#30

T.J. Hockenson

PPG

5.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

438

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Darren Waller

T.J. Hockenson

Head to Head

9.6 PPG5.8 PPG

8 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). T.J. Hockenson: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #30 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darren Waller is producing at 44% of elite pace and T.J. Hockenson at 26%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darren Waller vs T.J. Hockenson: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Darren Waller and T.J. Hockenson for your lineup, you are not alone. Darren Waller finished the 2025 season at 9.6 PPG for the Miami Dolphins (8 games), and T.J. Hockenson averaged 5.8 for the Minnesota Vikings (15 games).

That 3.8-point weekly advantage for Darren Waller is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

T.J. Hockenson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 51 receptions for 438 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 T.J. Hockenson, but the floor gap is real.

Both share a Week 6 bye, which matters for roster construction. If you are stacking tight ends this deep on your bench, plan your replacement tight end early.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Darren Waller is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. T.J. Hockenson 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. T.J. Hockenson (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored T.J. Hockenson by a projected 65 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•T.J. Hockenson played 15 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means T.J. Hockenson 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.
•T.J. Hockenson saw 66 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•T.J. Hockenson is 5 years younger than Darren Waller (28 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darren Waller vs T.J. Hockenson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darren Waller	T.J. Hockenson
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.6	5.8
Games Played	8	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	87
Receptions	24	51
Rec/Game	3.0	3.4
Receiving Yards	283	438
Rec Yds/Game	35.4	29.2
Receiving TDs	6	3
Targets	34	66
Target Share/Game	4.3	4.4
Age	33	28
Experience	10 yrs	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 6

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Darren Waller at 9.6 PPG, 3.8 points per game above T.J. Hockenson's 5.8. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darren Waller or T.J. Hockenson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to T.J. Hockenson's 5.8 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 T.J. Hockenson average in 2025?▾

Darren Waller averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. T.J. Hockenson averaged 5.8 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 3.8 points per game.

Do Darren Waller and T.J. Hockenson share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Darren Waller and T.J. Hockenson 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 T.J. Hockenson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored T.J. Hockenson by 3.8 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.